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Welsh capital Cardiff cleans up after riot sparked by death of two teens as police face questions over e-bike pursuit

A car burns after being set on fire by rioters in Ely, Cardiff.  (PA via AP: Bronwen Weatherby)

UK police are facing questions about whether officers' actions contributed to a fatal road crash which sparked a riot in the Welsh capital Cardiff.

Several dozen youths pelted police with objects and set cars and bins alight on Monday night following the death of two boys aged 15 and 16 in an e-bike crash

The chief superintendent of South Wales Police confirmed the force had received a video of a police van following an e-bike in the Ely district minutes before the crash.

Martyn Stone said there were no police vehicles on the street when the crash occurred.

The force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which investigates deaths in which police may be involved.

Fifteen police officers were injured in the clashes which erupted when police arrived at the scene.

Police officers stand guard in Cardiff during the unrest.  (PA via AP: Bronwen Weatherby)

Police said a "number" of arrests were made.

Resident John Urquhart said tensions rose in the area when police failed to tell local people what was happening.

"There was no attempt to communicate with the crowd and they showed nothing but disdain for the community and acted like we didn't deserve to know what happened on our own doorstep," he said.

"There was nobody going through the crowd.

"Crucially, I think the police really needed people to be out talking to the community and putting their minds at ease."

Video footage shared on social media on Monday night showed people throwing objects and shooting off fireworks at a line of police officers blocking one end of a street.

Two cars were also set on fire.

The unrest continued into the early hours of Tuesday, and at one point police officers were stationed outside Ely Police Station after suggestions it could be targeted.

The situation appeared to be calm later on Tuesday.

ABC/AP

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