LONDON: A dozen police officers were injured in “large scale disorder” in a district of the Welsh capital Cardiff late yesterday after two teenagers died in an accident, police said.
Two cars were set alight and scores of youths, some covering their faces with masks, threw rocks, paving slabs and fireworks at officers with riot shields in the city’s Ely area, according to live streamed YouTube images.
Officers on horsebacks were also deployed outside the local police station early today after suggestions it could be targeted.
South Wales police and crime commissioner Alun Michael said the riots followed rumours that the two teenagers had died in a crash while being chased by police.
“My understanding is that there was a road traffic accident involving two teenagers on an off road bike or scooter. And sadly, they died,” Michael told BBC radio.
“It would appear that there were rumours, and those rumours became rife, of a police chase, which wasn’t the case.”
Michael said around a dozen officers had been injured in the clashes although their injuries were not serious.
South Wales police added that the fatal crash “had already occurred when officers arrived”.