House Fire Injures Four Amidst Ongoing Organised Crime Probe
Grangetown blaze follows fatal A66 crash and property ramming incidents, prompting wide-ranging police investigation.
Carla Rooney
A house fire on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown, injured four people on Wednesday morning.
PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, the two police officers killed in the A66 crash, were called to assist with the search for the Passat; they were not involved in the original pursuit, it is understood.
The collision involved a VW Passat, reportedly driven the wrong way down the dual-carriageway, and a marked armed response vehicle. The police pursuit was aborted when the Passat entered the A66 going the wrong direction.
The Volkswagen Passat involved in the incident was believed to be using cloned number plates. Cole Worthy, Theo Rae, Makai Saddington, Michael Robert Cahill, and Jacob Matusiak were the five occupants of the Passat killed in the A66 crash.
More than £945,000 has been raised for the families of the two deceased police officers. Separately, a property in Acklam, Middlesbrough, sustained significant damage when it was rammed prior to a police pursuit.
The first vehicle, believed to be a Volvo XC60, was reportedly witnessed ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area. The Volvo XC60 involved in ramming properties has been traced and recovered.
Four of the five young men in the Passat reportedly had previous criminal convictions and were believed to be associated with another car seen ramming properties earlier that morning.
Cleveland Police claim the five young men involved in the fatal A66 collision may have had links to 'serious and organised criminal activity'. Cleveland Police have arrested a total of 17 people in connection with the crash.
Kai Beattie and Cameron George, two of the previously arrested individuals, have appeared in court. Kai Beattie faces charges of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Investigating officers are keeping an open mind regarding the circumstances of the blaze and cannot rule out potential links to wider organised crime at this stage. Emily Harrison stated, "We are working to establish the circumstances of exactly what has happened, but we are keeping an open mind and cannot rule out any links to wider organised crime at this time."
A high-visibility police presence has been established in Grangetown. Harrison added, "We will have a high visibility presence in the Grangetown area as this investigation progresses, and to provide reassurance to local communities, who will no doubt be impacted by this tragic incident."
We will have a high visibility presence in the Grangetown area as this investigation progresses, and to provide reassurance to local communities, who will no doubt be impacted by this tragic incident.
Harrison encouraged anyone with concerns or information regarding the incident in the early hours of this morning to approach one of their officers or to contact Cleveland Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously.