Five more people including 16-year-old boy arrested by police investigating events leading up to A66 crash that killed seven people

Five more people have been arrested by detectives investigating the events leading up to the crash on the A66 which left two police officers and five others dead.Cleveland Police confirmed the latest arrests included a 16-year-old boy as well as four men aged 18, 21, 23 and 25 - taking the total number detained up to 17.It comes after police said five young men who died after their vehicle hit a police car on a dual carriageway may have had links to 'serious and organised criminal activity'. The five people arrested today were:A 16-year-old boy on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group;An 18-year-old man on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group;A 21-year-old man on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group;A 55-year-old man on suspicion of assisting an offender;A 23-year-old man on suspicion of threats to kill.Following the 12 arrests confirmed yesterday, police said a 19-year-old man from Redcar has now been charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court today.A 26-year-old man, also from Redcar, was charged with possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of criminal property and has been remanded in custody until he appears at Teesside Crown Court on September 21.The 12 people detained yesterday included four arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and four on suspicion of possessing a firearm.Four of the suspects are also accused of possessing Class A and B drugs with intent to supply. Theo Rae (left) and Cole Worthy (right), both 17, were among the five young men who diedJakub Matusiak (left), 23, and Makai Saddington (right), 18, also died in the crash on Saturday Michael Cahill, 23, was the only person in the car who had no convictions before the crash Police at the scene of the fatal crash on the A66 in South Bank near Middlesbrough on Saturday Police issued the following updates today on the 12 people arrested yesterday: A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and possession of an offensive weapon and has been released on conditional bail;A 19-year-old man, from Redcar, has been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and has been released on conditional bail. He has however been charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and appeared at Teesside Magistrates Court this morning;A 30-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and has been released on conditional bail;A 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and possession of an offensive weapon and has been released on conditional bail;A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage and has been released on conditional bail. He has been remanded on recall to prison;A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of threats to cause criminal damage and public order and is in police custody;A 61-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate and has been released on conditional bail;A 47-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of class C drugs and has been released on conditional bail;A 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of class C drugs and has been released on unconditional bail;A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of class C drugs and has been released on conditional bail;A 26-year-old man, of Micklow Close in Redcar, has been charged with possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of criminal property. He has been remanded in custody until he appears at Teesside Crown Court on September 21;A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of threats to kill and has been released on conditional bail.Meanwhile the Police Federation of England and Wales said young people are 'baiting police officers' with dangerous driving. PC Matthew Blades, a father of two, was killed when his police vehicle was struck head-on PC Tom Clough also died in the crash, ten seconds after a police pursuit had been called offPaul Williams, its acting deputy national chairman, told BBC Breakfast: 'Every day we can identify now numerous examples of young people sensationalising dangerous driving. Not just dangerous driving, but baiting police officers who are out there to protect the public.'It's a real problem. It's causing officers concern.'They shouldn't have to be going out and worrying about whether they're going to return home from their shift or not. But on top of that, wondering if they're going to be plastered all over social media. How four of the five men had 37 previous convictions Theo Rae (x21)12 shoplifting offences between October 21, 2023 and May 4, 2024 and pleaded guilty to all offencesThree thefts from motor vehicle offences between January 31, 2024 and September 25, 2024 and pleaded guilty to all offencesOne theft of vehicle on April 13, 2024 and pleaded guiltyPossession of cannabis on April 22, 2024 and pleaded guiltyAggravated vehicle taking on May 16, 2024 and pleaded guiltyAggravated vehicle taking on January 2, 2025 and pleaded guiltyConviction of an offence while a youth rehabilitation order is in force on February 26, 2025 and pleaded guiltyAssaulted a police officer on April 30, 2026 and pleaded guiltyCole Worthy (x7)Using threatening abusive language to cause harassment, alarm and distress on October 27, 2024 and pleaded guiltyFailing to surrender to custody on May 14, 2025 and pleaded guiltyCommon assault of a police officer on April 27, 2025 and pleaded guiltyDriving without a licence on June 7, 2026 and pleaded guiltyUsing a vehicle without insurance on June 7, 2026 and pleaded guiltyDriving without reasonable consideration on June 7, 2026 and pleaded guiltyDriving using a mobile phone on June 7, 2026 and pleaded guiltyMakai Saddington (x7)Possession of a controlled class C drug on May 31, 2025 and pleaded guiltyPossession of a knife in a public place on May 31, 2025 and pleaded guiltyThree offences for assaulting a police officer on October 11, 2025 and pleaded guiltyAssaulted a police officer on June 9, 2026 and pleaded guiltyRacially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm and distress on June 9, 2026 and pleaded guiltyJakub Matusiak (x2)Using a vehicle without insurance on March 22, 2026 and pleaded guiltyDriving without a licence on March 22, 2026 and pleaded guiltyMichael CahillNo previous convictions 'It's absolutely unacceptable and social media platforms need to take some action.'Four of the five young men in the car had previous criminal convictions, and were believed to be associated with another car which was seen ramming properties earlier that morning.Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, were killed when a Volkswagen Passat, which had been pursued by police, was driven the wrong way along a dual carriageway near Middlesbrough and hit their marked armed response vehicle.The five people travelling in the Volkswagen, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak, were pronounced dead at the scene at South Bank, early on Saturday.Inquests were due to open on Thursday morning for the two officers who were killed in the A66 crash.The Teesside Coroner listed opening hearings for Pc Blades at 10am and Pc Clough at 10.10am at Teesside Magistrates' Court.An opening hearing for Theo Rae has been scheduled for 2.05pm at the same venue.The coroner's office has not yet listed when inquest openings will be heard for the other four in the VW Passat.The force said on the morning of the collision, it received several reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously.The first vehicle, believed to be a Volvo XC60, was witnessed ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area.The second vehicle, a Volkswagen Passat, is believed to have been associated with the activities of the Volvo.Police said both vehicles were operating with cloned number plates but were picked up by automated number plate recognition technology.The Volvo XC60 involved in the initial reports has been traced and recovered in Middlesbrough.Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox, responsible for the strategic leadership of the investigation, said: 'This has been a fast moving and complex investigation, with significant links to serious and organised criminal activity.'The events of that tragic night will have a lasting and profound impact on the Cleveland area and the communities we seek to protect.'We have a duty to respond to, and thoroughly investigate, the serious criminal activity that resulted in this fatal incident, and to bring all those responsible to justice.'Our robust response will continue in the weeks and months to come, as we continue to tackle those that seek to cause harm to our communities and tackle serious and organised crime.''Officers and staff across Cleveland have shown incredible resilience in continuing their work in the face of tragedy.'Two of their colleagues lost their lives while serving the people of Cleveland and, while the impact will be felt by our people for a long time to come, they have continued to act with the upmost professionalism.'I am also extremely grateful for the support we have received, and continue to receive, from the public of Cleveland and our wider police family.' Flares light up the skies in memory of Matusiak at South Bank Field in Middlesbrough last night Balloons are released into the sky yesterday just yards from where the officers were killed A vigil at St John The Evangelist Church in South Bank to remember the two police officersFlowers left beside the A66 close to the crash site paid tribute to the officers who died.More than £750,000 has been raised for the families of the two police officers who were killed when a Volkswagen Passat, that had been pursued by police, hit their marked armed response vehicle seconds after the chase was terminated.A fundraiser created by the Cleveland Police Federation said funds raised would be split equally between the two officers' families and the federation would continue to provide support.Cleveland Police launched the chase after receiving intelligence relating to 'numerous incidents' linked to a Passat, which activated an ANPR camera and is believed to have been using cloned plates, investigating watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct said.PC Blades and PC Clough were not involved in the original pursuit, but had been called to the area to assist with the search for the Passat.Family members described former Civil Nuclear Constabulary PC Clough as 'our hero' who was 'always on public duty'.In a statement issued by Cleveland Police, PC Blades's wife called him 'my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys'.Tributes for the five young men were also shared on social media, with many of their friends saying they 'can't believe it' and were 'heartbroken' and 'lost for words'.Balloon releases have been announced in their memory this week at different locations, including in South Bank near where the collision occurred.One message, dedicated to all five, said: 'We all knew use and knew use had hearts of gold and most loyalist lads (sic).'The Passat they were travelling in was spotted and an armed response vehicle pursued for just under seven minutes before the car drove on to the A66 at South Bank against the flow of traffic.Police aborted the chase and continued to travel on the correct side of the carriageway. The Passat crashed into Pc Blades and Pc Clough's vehicle around ten seconds after the chase ended.