Police have charged 27 people over a riot that broke out following the death of a teenager in Swansea last year.

On 20 May 2021, a vigil held for Ethan Powell descended into chaos when a mob began torching cars, vandalising homes and attacking police officers in Waun Wen Road, Mayhill.

Earlier this week, an inquest into the 19-year-old’s death confirmed he had collapsed after an “unintentional drug overdose”.

He had died at the home he shared with his grandmother – two days before the riots broke out.

An investigation into the disorder has seen dozens of people aged 15 to 44 accused of offences including rioting and arson with intent to endanger life.

The 27 individuals are due to appear at Swansea Magistrates’ Court in March.

Chief Superintendent Trudi Meyrick said: “The investigation team were resolute in their commitment to fully investigate the disorder that happened that night.

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“Residents of Mayhill were subjected to terrible scenes of disorder which caused serious harm and distress to the community.

“The judicial process will now run its course and we await the outcome of that process.”

It comes after South Wales Police publicly apologised last month after locals claimed it took police too long to respond to their calls for help and that they had felt “abandoned”.

An independent inquiry also found there had been “significant failings” by the force and recommended it carries out a more thorough investigation into its actions that night.

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