An MP has condemned the violence gripping Middlesbrough as ‘terrorism’ – with residents left ‘trapped in their homes’ after nine deaths and 19 arrests in a week.
More than 200 extra officers from across the UK have been deployed to help Cleveland Police after an outbreak of gang violence following the head-on crash which killed PCs Matthew Blades and Tom Clough and five young men on Saturday.
Police have arrested 17 people aged between 18 and 61 across Teesside, who were detained on a range of offences – including being part of an organised crime group.
Another two men, aged 31 and 23, have been arrested on suspicion of murder after seven-year-old Valentina Foster and her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34, were killed on Wednesday in a house fire in Grangetown, around one mile from the A66 crash.
A house in South Bank was also rammed into by a car in the early hours of yesterday morning, again close to the other scenes – although the property was empty.
Police are urgently investigating whether the incidents could be linked to wider organised crime but have not yet established whether they are all connected.
Several other ram attacks have been carried out in Middlesbrough – including against the father of one of the young men who died on the A66 just hours before the crash.
It comes as at least 12 armed police swooped on a residential street about five miles away last night, shouting for the occupants of a house to come to the front door.
The incident lasted around an hour in Thornaby, North Yorkshire, while Cleveland Police officers along with others from nearby forces surrounded front and back.
Several occupants of the house were brought out one by one, but the force has not confirmed whether there is any connection to investigations following the A66 crash.
Also this morning, a 21-year-old man arrested over the investigation into events leading up to the fatal collision on Saturday was charged with a drugs offence.
Local residents are fearful for their safety. Andy McDonald, the MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, told Times Radio: ‘People are saying that they are going to their shops and not feeling safe to do so and feeling trapped in their own homes.
‘That is just unacceptable. This is terrorism and we’ve got to have an appropriate response to deal with the people who are causing such mayhem in our communities and to allow people to lead their peaceful lives.’
At least 12 armed police swoop on a residential street in Thornaby, North Yorkshire, overnight
A man is led out of a property as armed police swoop on the residential street in Thornaby
The incident lasted around an hour in Thornaby, which is about five miles from Middlesbrough
Police on the residential street in Thornaby last night as a group of people are led out of a home
Several occupants of the house in Thornaby were brought out one by one overnight
Mr McDonald earlier told BBC Radio 4 there appeared to be a ‘causal link with organised crime’.
It comes as a mob of youths last night torched several cars and set off fireworks at a balloon release vigil for one of the young men who died on the A66.
Teenagers in tracksuits gathered to remember Michael Cahill, 23 – one of the five young men who died in the wrong-way collision that claimed the lives of two police officers.
At least five cars were set ablaze last night in a horse field about 15 miles from Middlesbrough near Haswell in County Durham, with the startled animals looking on from afar.
Former Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston said the town was ‘on its knees’ – as he warned the ongoing feuds between criminal gangs could escalate further.
Cleveland Police, one of the smallest forces in the country, has seen its resources stretched to breaking point this week.
The Government has now responded with 200 extra police officers from around the country, ‘from detectives to armed response’, being dispatched after MPs in the area appealed for help.
Last night social media footage showed dozens congregate in the middle of a field with bikers revving engines and car horns blaring.
Cars were first driven erratically around the field, throwing up mud and crashing through hedges, before some were parked and set alight to whoops from the crowd.
Hooded youths were setting off blue smoke flares and fireworks and released balloons spelling out ‘Michael’ into the sky. Clips of the antics posted online were captioned ‘Rest in peace Micky’.
After the mob cleared, footage showed smouldering, burnt-out car shells lying on scorched grass while locals used farm machinery to begin the clear up.
Mr Cahill’s mother had earlier called for ‘bikes, jeeps, cars and quad bikes’ to gather for her son’s send-off.
She wrote on social media yesterday morning: ‘Change of plans michales [sic] baloon release Thursday peterlee White House opposite on field come on lads bikes jeeps cars quads give him send of he deserves’.
Several cars were set ablaze by youths in a field near Haswell in County Durham last night
The cars were parked up in different spots around the field in County Durham and torched
A clip of the cars captioned ‘Rest in peace Micky’ for Michael Cahill, one of the A66 fatalities
Chaotic scenes broke out at a memorial organised for Michael Cahill, 23, who died on the A66
A statement from Michael Cahill’s mother called for different types of vehicles to gather
Many of the young people gathered reached for their phones to film the cars burning
Scores of blue balloons spelling out ‘Michael’ were also released into the sky last night
Burnt-out shells were all that remained of the vehicles, surrounded by scorched grass
Remnants of fireworks, smoke canisters and balloons were scattered around the field this morning. Scorch marks were visible in the field and cars that were torched have since been removed.
After the tribute to Mr Cahill, locals reported horses being ‘absolutely terrified’ by the scenes unfolding in their field.
Violence, believed to be a fallout from the crash that killed PCs Blades and Clough, has spiralled across Teesside.
Alec Brown, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council, said more than 200 extra police officers have been or will be sent from around the country to support Cleveland Police and that he would be asking the Prime Minister for more support.
He said officers were ‘working 20-hour days to ensure the ongoing safety of innocent residents’.
Anna Turley, MP for Redcar, said: ‘I know how worried people are, and understandably people want to know what is being done.
‘There is a significant response under way, with additional officers and resources being brought into our area and agencies working together around the clock.’
She added: ‘People have a right to feel safe in their homes and in their communities. That is our absolute priority.’
Yesterday two further incidents saw a car crash into a wall outside a South Bank home and a 39-year-old stabbed around midday in nearby Eston.
A resident near the site of the stabbing said people in the area were ‘trying to keep our heads down’.
Referring to the postcode which covers Eston, Grangetown and South Bank, among other areas, he said: ‘TS6 has gone mad, it’s brutal.’
Yesterday afternoon, armed police swarmed a house on the Bankfield estate in Eston after a 39-year-old man was stabbed. The man has been receiving treatment following the assault.
The decision on extra police was announced by Mr Brown, who wrote on social media: ‘Over 200 extra police officers from forces around the country are here and are en route, from detectives to armed response.
Valentina Foster, seven, and her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34, died in a house fire on Wednesday
A house in the South Bank area of Middlesbrough was rammed by a car early yesterday
A house in Acklam, Middlesbrough, linked to the father of Cole Worthy, one of the young men who died in the A66 crash, was rammed hours before Saturday’s collision
Armed police on the scene of the suspected knife attack in Eston yesterday
A group gather in Middlesbrough yesterday in memory of three of the five young men who died
Blue smoke from flares fills the air by the East Middlesbrough Events Centre on Wednesday
Messages remembering the young men spray-painted on East Middlesbrough Events Centre
‘I will be sending a letter today to our Prime Minister asking for even more resources. People need to feel safe in their homes.’
Middlesbrough has the highest crime rate in England excluding central London, and rival criminal groups have been spreading fear among residents.
Gatherings had been held earlier in the week to remember the other four men who died in the VW Passat.
Friends and relatives of Jacob Matusiak, 23, and 17-year-olds Cole Worthy and Theo Rae, congregated on a grassy area in Middlesbrough on Wednesday.
Blue smoke from flares filled the air and children were among those assembled next to the East Middlesbrough Events Centre, previously known as Middlebeck Social Club.
Messages have been spray-painted on the building reading: ‘RIP The Boys’, ‘Never Be Forgotten RIP The Lads’ and the initials of those in the car with ‘Rest easy boys’.
Community group Active Tees Valley, which operates the venue, has criticised the vandalism, saying that ‘damaging buildings that are being used to support local residents ultimately impacts the same community we are all trying to look after’.
Meanwhile, an inquest into the deaths of the two officers was told yesterday that they died from head and neck injuries.
In consecutive hearings, coroner Paul Appleton said PC Blades was identified by his wife, and PC Clough by his partner.
The provisional cause of death was said to be head and neck injuries for PC Blades, and neck injuries for PC Clough.
Mr Appleton told the hearing that ‘all occupants of both vehicles were sadly pronounced dead at the scene’.
