Seven further individuals have been arrested as part of a police crackdown on suspected organised crime following a devastating collision that claimed the lives of seven people, including two police officers.
PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, lost their lives when their armed response vehicle was involved in a crash with a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way on the A66 at South Bank in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jacob Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, Theo Rae, and Cole Robert Worthy, both 17, also perished in the incident. Officers subsequently confirmed they were investigating "serious organised criminal activity" connected to the Passat.
Latest arrests and charges
Police confirmed tonight (Friday, August 28) that seven people have been arrested as part of the operation launched in the wake of the crash. Four men, aged 35, 25, 40, and 21, are being held on suspicion of criminal damage with intent to endanger life.
This follows reports of a vehicle crashing into a property on Steele Crescent, Middlesbrough. The men are also being questioned in connection with an alleged arson attack after a caravan was set alight on Atlee Road on Wednesday morning, as well as a drug-related offence.
Cleveland Police confirmed the men were travelling in a vehicle that was stopped by officers on Kingsley Road in Grangetown on Thursday, with a quantity of class A drugs subsequently seized. The three other men arrested included a 23-year-old on suspicion of threats to kill, a 42-year-old on suspicion of threats to kill and possession of criminal property, and a 30-year-old on suspicion of possession of criminal property. All three have been released on conditional bail.
Total arrests reach 24
This brings the total number of arrests since the crash to 24. Earlier on Friday, detectives confirmed they are not linking a house fire which claimed the lives of a seven-year-old girl and her aunt to the A66 crash that killed seven people, including two police officers.
Hundreds of additional officers have been deployed to support colleagues following a series of recent incidents in the Middlesbrough and County Durham area. Cleveland Police Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox said: "This latest disruptive activity now brings the total number of arrests to 24 since the investigation commenced."
"Several suspects arrested throughout the course of this week have been charged with serious offences and a number of offenders have been recalled to prison. This robust approach demonstrates our commitment and determination to pursue those who we believe are intent on causing serious violence and harm to our communities."
"Be assured, our relentless pursuit of suspected organised criminals will not waver. I want to encourage anyone who believes serious violence and organised crime is taking place in their neighbourhood to report it so we can keep on taking action."
