Published 2 hours ago • loading... • Updated 2 hours ago
Cars set on fire at vigil after A66 crash as hundreds of extra police officers sent to Cleveland
Hundreds of officers from multiple forces are helping Cleveland Police as investigators probe possible links between the A66 crash and a fatal house fire.
Hundreds of extra police officers have deployed to Cleveland following a series of deadly incidents, including a fatal A66 crash on Saturday that killed two police officers and five young men.
Police arrested 17 people after the A66 crash as part of investigations into alleged organised crime, while authorities have not ruled out a link between the crash and a fatal house fire on Wednesday.
Cars were torched at a Haswell memorial vigil for Michael Cahill, one of the A66 victims, as an official described the violence in the Middlesbrough area as "terrorism."
Redcar and Cleveland Council leader Alec Brown wrote to Prime Minister Andy Burnham requesting additional resources, saying nine deaths in six days left residents feeling "scared" and unsafe in their homes.
Police arrested two men on suspicion of murder regarding the Grangetown fire, while Josh Kirton, brother of victim Natalie McDonald, told reporters the loss was "senseless" and unrelated to gang investigations.