LIKE LIVING IN THE BRONX — Gun cops flood Middlesbrough streets after deadly gang feud leaves young girl d3.a.d…
STREETS OF FEAR Gun cop army sent to Middlesbrough to tackle gang feud that killed girl as locals says it’s ‘like living in The Bronx’
A TASKFORCE of 200 specialist police officers is being deployed to crime-ridden Middlesbrough in an attempt to restore order.
The move was announced tonight after gang warfare in the town left nine dead in under a week, including two cops and Valentina Foster, seven.
Armed cops at the scene of a stabbing in Middlesbrough on ThursdayCredit: Unknown
Valentina Foster, seven, was killed in a house fire in the early hours of Wednesday morning
Locals, who compared the town’s crime-plagued streets to the Bronx, fear what will happen next.
Officers deployed include firearms cops and detectives with years of experience in tackling gang-related violence.
One terrified resident said tonight: “It’s like living in the Bronx.”
Another local said: “The problem is that once you’re here, you can’t get out.
“The gangsters can do what they want to each other, but now we’ve got innocent people being killed who have nothing to do with their drug-dealing and bullying.”
And another said: “It’s scary. You wonder what’s going to happen next.”
PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were killed in a head-on smash in the early hours last Saturday.
Their armed response vehicle was hit by a VW Passat driving on the wrong side of the A66 as it fled a high-speed police chase.
The house said to have been rammed by a rival gang before the fatal A66 horror smashCredit: PA
Emergency services at the scene on the A66 in South Bank on SaturdayCredit: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire
The five in the Passat — Michael Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Jakub Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, and 17-year-old Cole Worthy — also died.
Sources said the gang was hell-bent on revenge after rivals had earlier rammed a number of properties in the area. Another home was rammed yesterday.
Gangland pals of the five are also believed to be linked to the fire-bombing of a house in the Grangetown area that killed innocent seven-year-old Valentina Foster and her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34.
Valentina and aunt Natalie died in firebomb attack on house on WednesdayCredit: NNP
Demolished wall after another property was rammed by car on ThursdayCredit: Refer to source
Another woman, 48, who was pulled from the burning building, remained in a critical condition in hospital.
The spiralling violence also saw armed officers scrambled to an estate after a stabbing.
Cleveland Police, one of the smallest forces in the country, has been stretched to breaking point.
They will now be joined by officers from Durham, Northumbria, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and Humberside.
PC Tom Clough died in the car smashCredit: Cleveland Police
PC Matthew Blades also lost his lifeCredit: Facebook
Local council leader Alec Brown revealed the additional resources after a briefing with top brass.
He said: “Over 200 extra police officers from forces around the country are here and are en route, from detectives to armed response.
“I will be sending a letter to our Prime Minister asking for even more resource.
“The police really are doing an amazing job.
“Everyone is heartbroken over the loss of an aunt and little girl.
“People need to feel safe in their homes.”
He praised cops for working “20-hour days” to keep Middlesbrough safe.
But sources said the circumstances were so exceptional that outside help had been requested to launch a crackdown on gang violence.
In the latest attack, a 4×4 destroyed a brick wall and metal fencing after repeatedly reversing towards a property a short walk from the home where Valentina tragically lost her life.
A neighbour revealed: “There was a massive series of bangs just before 1am.
“A Jeep-type car slammed into the front wall and kept going back and forwards over it until it was smashed down.
“It’s all part of the same stuff that’s been going down for months.”
The spate of violence erupted in the wake of the A66 crash.
An inquest into the deaths of the two officers — married dad-of-two PC Blades and Iraq war veteran PC Clough — was told they died from head and neck injuries.
A separate inquest for the five in the Passat heard they suffered neck, chest and torso trauma.
Coroner Paul Appleton said: “All occupants of both vehicles were sadly pronounced deceased at the scene.”
Police believe those in the Passat were hunting down rival gang members responsible for a ramming attack on the home of Worthy’s dad minutes earlier.
Other properties linked to the gang were also targeted.
Tasteless vigils for the five have been held all week, with balaclava-clad pals setting off fireworks and flares in their memory.
In stark contrast, devastated colleagues of the two officers yesterday bowed their heads for a poignant minute’s silence for the fallen PCs.
A balloon release in memory of the A66 crash victims yesterday
Valentina Foster and her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34Credit: Facebook
Those standing guard outside the fire-damaged house where Valentina and her aunt Natalie died also took part.
Police investigating the fire-bombing have arrested two men — aged 23 and 31 — and say they cannot rule out “links to wider organised crime”.
Valentina and Natalie’s family fear the house was targeted by mistake.
Natalie’s brother Josh Kirton, 27, said: “We keep going home and then gravitating back down to look at the flowers and all the kind thoughts from people.
“It helps to know so many people care. We don’t know why this happened.
“We keep reading that it’s connected to the gangs and what happened on the A66, but it just wasn’t. That is what makes this so senseless.
“People think they can do whatever they like.
“There are some horrible people in the world and now my sister and Valentina are gone.”
Floral tributes have been laid at Cleveland Police HQ for the two dead officersCredit: PA
A house fire is understood to be linked to the horror A66 crash which claimed seven lives, including two policemen
Former Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston said: “More incidents are happening and it looks like they’re related. Everyone’s praying that this peters out.
“If it doesn’t, more innocent lives could be at risk.
“Middlesbrough needs solid and unflinching intolerance of crime. Not just this week but always.”
Local Labour MP Andy McDonald said: “People feel unsafe even leaving their homes to go to the shops.
Valentina, 7, was a victim of an arson attack
“Gangs are clearly featuring in this, as is the drugs trade.”
Mr McDonald later added: “This is terrorism.
“We’ve got to have an appropriate response to deal with the people who are causing such mayhem in our communities and to allow people to lead their peaceful lives.
“That isn’t happening. We need the resources.
“We’ve been under-resourced for as long as I can remember.
“I’ve been making the plea to successive governments and I’m making it now that we get our numbers restored to 2010 levels at the very least.
“We’re 200 officers down and we must have them restored as a matter of urgency.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the Government would offer “all of the support that authorities need” to tackle the violence.
