UK police probe organized crime links in wreck that killed 2 officers, 5 others

Police have arrested 17 people after a car fleeing officers drove the wrong way on a highway and crashed into a police vehicle.MANCHESTER, England (CN) — British police arrested five more people Tuesday as part of an investigation surrounding a crash that killed two police officers and five occupants of a fleeing car Saturday, bringing the total number of arrests to 17.Cleveland Police are investigating what they described as “serious and organized criminal activity” connected to the deadly collision near Middlesbrough in northern England.The five people arrested Tuesday include a 16-year-old boy, an 18-year-old man and a 21-year-old man, all on suspicion of participating in an organized crime group. A 55-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and a 23-year-old man on suspicion of threats to kill.Cleveland Police said the arrests followed overnight operations with support from the National Crime Agency, which investigates serious and organized crime, and the North East Regional Organized Crime Unit.Of the 12 arrested Monday, a 19-year-old man was charged with possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. He appeared Tuesday at Teesside Magistrates Court, a lower court that handles criminal cases in England and Wales.A 26-year-old man was also charged with possessing Class A and Class B drugs with intent to supply and possessing criminal property. He was remanded in custody until a Sept. 21 hearing at Teesside Crown Court, which hears more serious criminal cases.2 officers, 5 passengers killedThe arrests follow a crash early Saturday in which a Volkswagen Passat pursued by police traveled the wrong way along the A66 highway near Middlesbrough and collided with an oncoming marked police car.Officers Matthew Blades, 37, and Tom Clough, 38, died in the crash.All five occupants of the Passat also died. They were Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, Michael Robert Cahill, 23, and Jacob Matusiak, 23.The force said it had received multiple reports in the early hours of Saturday and the previous night of two cars being driven dangerously around Middlesbrough. A Volvo XC60, which police believe was linked to the Passat, was seen ramming properties.The Independent Office for Police Conduct, which investigates serious complaints and incidents involving police, said officers had pursued the Passat for almost seven minutes.Police abandoned the pursuit 10 seconds before the crash when the Passat turned onto the highway and began traveling into oncoming traffic, according to the watchdog.Police have said the group had links to serious and organized criminal activity.Four of the five had a combined 37 previous convictions for offenses including possession of a bladed article, car theft, drug possession, racially aggravated intentional harassment and driving offenses.Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox, who heads the investigation, said Tuesday: “This has been a fast moving and complex investigation, with significant links to serious and organized criminal activity.”Fox said the deaths of the two officers would have a lasting impact on the Cleveland area and praised officers and staff for continuing their work after losing colleagues.Almost 900,000 pounds ($1.2 million) has been raised for the families of officers Blades and Clough.Events before crashThe charges and additional arrests came one day after Cleveland Police announced 12 arrests following reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously in Middlesbrough.Police said both vehicles were using cloned license plates to avoid detection but were picked up by the police force’s automated license plate recognition system.The Volvo was later traced and recovered.Those arrested Monday included people suspected of participating in an organized crime group, possessing offensive weapons, possessing firearms without certificates, supplying drugs, assisting an offender, causing criminal damage and making threats to kill.Several have been released on bail, while others remain in custody.The investigation is expected to continue in the coming weeks and months.In 2025, the U.K. reported four fatalities per billion vehicle miles traveled, compared to 11 fatalities per billion miles in the U.S.Courthouse News reporter James Francis Whitehead is based in England.Categories / InternationalSubscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads