COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

People have had to be rescued for a car after it was set alight in Coventry last night by a group armed with petrol bombs.



Superintendent Ron Winch from Coventry police has told Mercia up to 40 people gathered on Daventry Road in Cheylesmore last night.

By the time officers had got there they had set alight to a car and were trying to throw petrol bombs at other vehicles driving past.

Officers rescued people from the car hit and more than 20 confronted the crowd, giving chase as they tried to run off.

9 people have been arrested – mainly lads in their late teens or early 20s but one man is in his mid 40s.

Coventry Police Chief Inspector Kerry Blakeman, said: “Coventry has remained relatively quiet over recent days when viewed against the disorder that has broken out in other parts of the country.

“This incident shows that we will respond swiftly and decisively to anyone intent on causing trouble in our communities.

“We will not tolerate violent behaviour and will arrest any people who commit acts of violence or criminality; offenders can expect to be put before the courts and punished appropriately.”

Chief Insp Blakeman went on to praise the bravery of his officers: “We had a large police presence on the scene quickly…they tackled the offenders head-on. This was a hazardous situation for the officers but they brought it under control quickly, chased down key suspects and made several arrests.

“My officers are committed to protecting members of the public, their homes and their businesses.”

No-one was injured.

4 charged after car petrol bombed in Coventry

Police have charged 4 men after a car was set alight in Coventry by a group armed with petrol bombs.

West Midlands have confirmed to Mercia that five others arrested on Daventry Road in Cheylesmore on Tuesday night have been released on police bail.

A group of up to 40 people gathered there at around 10:30pm, setting a car alight and then trying to throw petrol bombs at others driving past.

More than 20 police officers attended and managed to get the driver out of the burning car.

They were attacked but quickly managed to get the situation under control.

Coventry Police Chief Inspector Kerry Blakeman, said: “Coventry has remained relatively quiet over recent days when viewed against the disorder that has broken out in other parts of the country.

“This incident shows that we will respond swiftly and decisively to anyone intent on causing trouble in our communities.

“We will not tolerate violent behaviour and will arrest any people who commit acts of violence or criminality; offenders can expect to be put before the courts and punished appropriately.”

Chief Insp Blakeman went on to praise the bravery of his officers: “We had a large police presence on the scene quickly…they tackled the offenders head-on. This was a hazardous situation for the officers but they brought it under control quickly, chased down key suspects and made several arrests.

“My officers are committed to protecting members of the public, their homes and their businesses.”

No-one was injured.

Local police will this evening hold a meeting for people in Cheylesmore who are worried about the incident. It will happen at 6pm at the Cheylesmore Community Centre.

Coventry detectives have charged four men with violent disorder following an incident in Cheylesmore on Tuesday night (Aug 9) when a car was set alight and officers pelted with missiles.

Harjit Sekhon (21) from Holbrooks; 19-year-old Ciaran Galvin from Wood End; Craig Cresswell (22) from Longford; and 18-year-old Bernard Blackstock from Foleshill will appear at Coventry Magistrates Court this afternoon (Aug 11).

Four other men, a 44-year-old from Radford, a 27-year-old from Cheylesmore, a 26-year-old from Foleshill and a 22-year-old from Willenhall, plus a 16-year-old from Willenhall, have been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Their bail conditions ban them from Daventry Road, Cecily Road and Quinton Park – where the disturbances occurred – and forces them to report regularly to Coventry Police Station.

The three youngest are also bound by overnight curfews.

rebbonk wrote:Welcome Ryan.

I often use an expression.... "Never be surprised at the stupidity of people in large groups".

'Group think/action' is a very strange thing to see: common sense (itself a rare commodity) seems to fly out of the window!