As South Wales Police continue to face questions about the circumstances of the deaths of Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans, the two teenagers’ friends and family have offered heartfelt tributes to the boys.
Hundreds of bunches of flowers and other memorabilia have been placed at the spot where the two boys died in an e-bike crash shortly after 6pm on Monday (May 22).
Police have confirmed that officers had been following the two boys minutes before their deaths.
READ MORE: Mum of boy killed in Cardiff car crash begged for blazing riot around his body to stop
Harvey’s family have released a tribute, saying their hearts had been “truly broken” by the sudden death of a “much-loved son, grandson, brother, nephew, friend, and boyfriend”.
They added: “He lived life to the full, he had a big heart and deep down he truly cared. He was a best friend to Kyrees, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family also."
In a reference to the widespread rioting that had followed the boys’ deaths the family continued: “We ask for peace within the community and request that people leave the investigation to the police so we can get the answers we so desperately need to lay Harvey to rest”.
There has been “large-scale disorder” in the Snowden Road area of Cardiff, following reports that the boys were being chased by a police van at the time of the crash.
There had been conflicting accounts from South Wales Police about the exact circumstances of the incident, but in the past few hours they released a statement admitting that that, in the minutes before the crash took place, a police van that had earlier been following the boys had been just half a mile away from the scene of the crash on Snowden Road.
Meanwhile Kyrees’s family paid their own tribute, saying the 16-year-old was a “loving, caring handsome young man, a loving son to Belinda and Craig, little brother to Aleah and Jordan and a special uncle KyKy to Myra”.
They went on: ‘He was loved so much by his grandparents and aunties and uncles and his many cousins.
“Him and Harvey along with Niall were best friends since they were young and went everywhere together, they both had so many friends and were very well liked doing many things together, having fun and laughs."
“They were loved by not only their families but by their community as well. Belinda, Craig and families, would like to thank everyone for all their kind words, flowers, and messages since they lost their son."
An official investigation is under way to determine exactly what had happened, after CCTV footage emerged apparently showing the police van following an electric bike minutes before the crash.
This new information appears to contradict Tuesday's statement from local police and crime commissioner Alun Michael blaming the unrest on false “rumours” on social media.
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said he felt "profound sorrow" for the two teens, as well as the wider "utterly decent hardworking" people of Ely.
He also said the police had questions to answer and there was "repair work to be done" on their relationship with the community.
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