CARS have been torched at a twisted vigil for one of the joyriders killed in the A66 wrong-way crash – just hours after police launched a crackdown on a gang war.
Yobs paying tribute to their dead pal burned the motors as they released balloons into the air near Haswell, County Durham, footage posted to social media by attendees last night showed.
Five cars burned at a vigil for Michael Cahill last night Credit: Unknown
Hooded youths burned the motors as others released balloons into the air
Masked bikers honked their horns as the cars burned
Flares and balloons were released at the vigil
Five motors were burned to a crisp at the remembrance for Michael Robert Cahill, 23, after he and four others died in the A66 smash on Saturday morning.
The joyriders had driven the wrong way down the dual carriageway in Middlesbrough and crashed into a police car, also killing PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38.
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Cahill’s friends paid tribute to him by skidding the cars around a farmer’s field and churning up the ground before setting the motors alight.
The two-dozen-or-so youths then set off blue flares as the fire began to take hold – with other masked yobs able to be seen near the motors.
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Balloons spelling Michael were released into the sky
Cars were seen churning up the field as they sped around in doughnuts
Balloons spelling out “Michael” were released into the sky over the sound of loud engines and horns from a group of masked bikers in the crowd.
Fire crews and police rushed to the scene before the youths abandoned the burning cars to their fate.
Locals were left aghast at the chaos with one saying: “I was showing my niece the horses out the back of mine and they were terrified.”
Another said: “Absolutely disgusting.”
A later video shows a number of burnt out cars still smoking in the field
One car was taken away by a tractor Credit: Unknown
The local farmer was left to dispose of the wrecks and deal with the scorched grass, according to the locals.
Footage showed the burned metal carcasses being moved around by the farmer’s JCB as smoke still rose from them.
Cahills’s mum had urged for people to bring “bikes, jeeps, cars and quads” and give her son “the send off he deserves” as she encouraged people to the memorial.
It comes as more than 200 police officers were deployed to Middlesbrough as gang warfare spirals.
The gathering was for Michael Cahill Credit: UGC/FACEBOOK/UNPIXS
Valentina Foster and her aunt Natalie McDonald died in a house fire on Wednesday Credit: Facebook
Officers include firearms cops and detectives with years of experience in tackling gang-related violence.
The move was announced last night violence in the town left nine dead in under a week, including Valentina Foster, 7, and her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34.
The four other occupants of the VW Passat who died in Saturday’s crash were: Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18.
Sources said the gang was hell-bent on revenge after rivals had earlier rammed a number of properties in the area. Another home was rammed yesterday.
A wall stands demolished at a property on Steele Crescent following an overnight ramming Credit: Unknown
Armed officers arrested a man just five miles form Middlesbrough last night Credit: BackGrid
Gangland pals of the five are also believed to be linked to the fire-bombing of a house in the Grangetown area that killed innocent Valentina and Natalie.
Another woman, 48, who was pulled from the burning building, remains in a critical condition in hospital.
Armed police last night also swooped on a house and arrested a man at gunpoint only five miles from Middlesbrough.
It’s unclear weather that arrest related to the gang warfare, but the spiralling violence also saw armed officers scrambled to an estate yesterday after a stabbing.
Tasteless vigils for the five have been held all week, with balaclava-clad pals setting off fireworks and flares in their memory.
On Monday, masked youths sparked outrage after setting off flares in memory of Jakub Matusiak.
The gathering which took place on South Bank field near Middlesbrough was quickly branded “disrespectful” after the crown descended into an angry mob.
What set out as a balloon release became around 200 people lighting up the sky with rockets and orange smoke.
TIMELINE OF A TOWN’S TERROR
SATURDAY 3am: Home of the dad of one of the A66 crash gang is rammed.
3.36am: Gang’s VW Passat, with cloned plates, is seen pursued by police.
3.39am: It joins the A66 in the wrong direction. Cops abort chase. Ten seconds later it collides head-on with a police armed response vehicle. PC Matthew Blades, PC Tom Clough and the five Passat occupants are killed.
MONDAY: Police say Volvo XC60, also with cloned plates, rammed homes. They announce 12 arrests on suspicion of crimes linked to organised gangs.
TUESDAY: Police arrest five more people, including a 16-year-old boy. Two men are charged with various offences while a third is recalled to prison.
WEDNESDAY 5.23am: Huge fire at a property in Grangetown. People seen leaping from upstairs windows
11.54am: Murder probe announced after fire deaths of Valentina Foster, seven, and her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34.
5.25pm: Police announce two men arrested on suspicion of murder.
THURSDAY 0.34am: 4×4 in ramming incident near where Valentina died.
3pm: Armed police surround a house after a man suffers serious knife injuries.
4.30pm: Council leader reveals 200 extra cops are being drafted in.
A gang of around 20 masked youths on scooters, off-road bikes and quad bikes roared around a field in South Bank, near Middlesbrough, in honour of Matusiak, who himself had convictions for motoring offences.
At just after 5pm hundreds of orange balloons – chosen because it was his favourite colour – were released into the sky amid cheers from the crowd.
One Haswell local questioned why those memorials hadn’t involved “burning cars or rallying cards crashing into each other”.
In stark contrast, devastated colleagues of the two officers bowed their heads for a poignant minute’s silence for the fallen PCs.
Local Labour MP Andy McDonald said: “People feel unsafe even leaving their homes to go to the shops.
“Gangs are clearly featuring in this, as is the drugs trade.”
Mr McDonald later added: “This is terrorism.”
Cleveland Police has so far made 17 arrests following the crash as they crackdown on the disorder.
The offences range from suspicion of participating in an organised crime group to possession of firearms or drugs.
