The close-knit community now trying to stay calm after a night of violence and tragedy

Ely in Cardiff is a close-knit community in shock.

At the heart of it are two heartbroken families grieving the deaths of two teenagers.

Friends were in tears on Tuesday as they went to lay flowers at the scene of the crash on Snowden Road.

One friend described them as “good boys”.

Members of the community left tributes to the victims of the crash, with messages including “Fly high lads”.

The scenes which followed the collision have left their mark on the community.

There was a sense of anger and disappointment from some at what unfolded. Cars were burned and property damaged.

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People this morning were left to pick up the pieces, trying to understand just what had happened here.

Cardiff council workers had cleared the road within hours but the incident’s impact on the community will remain for some time.

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‘Terrible’

Many of the people living on Stanway Road, where the riotous scenes began, said they could not understand the scenes they witnessed on Monday night and into the early hours of Tuesday morning.

They said people had travelled from a wide area after footage of the riot circulated on social media.

Residents, many with young children, were left fearful after witnessing the scenes of violence.

Ahmad Abdollah is a taxi driver who lives in Stanway Road.

His friend’s taxi was parked outside his house and was damaged during the riots.

“We were talking with each other you see,” Mr Abdollah told Sky News.

“We were just in the house and suddenly I heard shouting and noise everywhere.

“Honestly it was terrible. I’ve never never seen that situation in my lifetime. It was really terrible”.

Another resident of Stanway Road, who did not want to be named, told Sky News there were “about a hundred people” on the street outside his house.

“It was just ridiculous,” he said. “I’m meant to be in work right now but I can’t go because I’ve had no sleep.

“People’s bins were being stolen, lit on fire.”

‘Absolutely shocking’

In light of the scenes on Monday night, which were extensively shared on social media, community leaders have called for calm.

Canon Jan Gould is the vicar at a local church in Ely and has lived in the area for 17 years.

She told Sky News the scenes of riots in the hours after the collision were “absolutely shocking”.

“I remember seeing it on the news in Swansea two years ago. I never though it would happen here and yet there we are.”

She acknowledged there had been “feelings of anger” as the community tried to come to terms with what happened.

“We need to just all stay calm at the minute. Just try and dilute whatever feelings of anger might be around and try and prevent another night of the same thing.”

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Canon Gould said the loss of the two young boys at the heart of this tragic incident was “awful”.

“It’s a tragedy, you can’t imagine what those families are feeling today,” she said.

“Just to lose young people in that way is awful.”

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