CARS TORCHED
Who was Ethan Powell and why are people rioting in Mayhill, Swansea?
A VIGIL for a popular teenager last night descended into chaos, with riots on the streets of Mayhill in Swansea.
But who was Ethan Powell and how did he die? Here's all you need to know...
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Who was Ethan Powell?
Ethan Powell is a teenager who collapsed hours after watching Swansea City's playoff game against Barnsley on TV with his grandfather on Tuesday evening.
What was Ethan Powell's cause of death?
The 19-year-old’s cause of death is yet to be determined.
Why are there riots in Mayhill, Swansea?
Friends of the teen had organised three balloon release events in memory of the popular boy.
However, yesterday's balloon release to the dead teenager blew up into a full-scale riot.
Shocking video footage showed how the scenes descended into mayhem.
In one clip, a man can be seen shoving a black car with its doors and boot open down a hill into another vehicle which is already on fire.
The camera turns to show a crowd of hundreds of people cheering as the car crashes into the inferno.
One local said a 90-year-old woman who lives alone had her windows smashed and a man who stepped in to help her had his car set on fire.
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"Man living with two young kids - windows put through and had to plead with them to stop because his kids thought they were going to die," the furious local resident wrote on Facebook.
"To the kids involved, hope you're proud."
He added: "I've just seen young children be shuttled past the burning cars and broken glass covering their eyes and s*** scared because of your actions."
Another local said: "Really sad to see the level of violence in Mayhill, Swansea tonight.
"That community will have to fight now for years to remove the stain of the actions of the few, crying shame for the community. Looks absolutely terrifying."
One resident told the the disturbance "all started with some fireworks at around 7.30pm".
"Police initially turned up and got out of the van to try to stop what was happening," he said.
"But they got pelted with rocks and then they got back in the van and left.
"We were trapped in the house with two young kids. They were really scared so I put them at the back of the house."
At one point, crowds cheered with delight as a car was pushed down a hill into another blazing vehicle during the sickening violence in Maryhill.
Local residents spoke of their fears the mob would storm their homes as they ran amok.
Dad-of-two Adam Romain said yobs launched rocks at him and set his car ablaze as his girlfriend and children aged four and 16-months were inside.
But Adam said when officers were confronted by the gang they fled the scene before later returning with back-up.
Adam said: "I think that when the police left the scene it gave this mob a feeling of invincibility that made them feel unstoppable.
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"They started lobbing bricks at me, they started lobbing bricks at my house, with my babies in the house.
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"They were throwing these bricks through the front door straight at me - they had no fear whatsoever."
Police today warned rioters face "robust action" after last night's shocking scenes.
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