Police have confirmed further details about 12 arrests, including one man who has been charged, amid a probe linked to the horrific A66 crash that left two police officers dead.
Cleveland Police said earlier today (Monday, August 24) that 12 people had been arrested in connection with the head-on crash, which also killed five people in a Volkswagen Passat going the wrong way up the A-road at 3.39am on Saturday (August 22)..
The two police officers were named as PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38.
The five men who died in the Passat were named as Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18.
All but Cahill had previous criminal convictions and were believed to be associated with another car, a Volvo XC60, which was seen ramming properties earlier that morning.
The Volvo, which, like the VW, was said to be using cloned plates, was later traced and recovered in Middlesbrough.
As part of a wider investigation into events of Saturday morning, 12 people have been arrested, with one charged.
Nine men and three women, aged between 19 and 61, have been arrested on suspicion of offences including possession of a firearm and involvement in organised crime.
Cameron George, 26, 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.
Cleveland Police Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox 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."
In the early hours of Saturday morning (August 22), officers received multiple reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously in Middlesbrough.
The Passat was pursued, but the chase was terminated when it entered the A66 on the wrong side of the carriageway. PCs Blades and Clough were not involved in the chase and were driving in the correct direction on the carriageway when the collision occurred.
Cleveland Police have launched an investigation into the crash.
(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Police have now released further details of the arrests
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A 24-year-old man, a 19-year-old man and a 35-year-old man, were arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and possession of an offensive weapon. All three remain in police custody.
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A 30-year-old woman has also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and remains in custody.
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A 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage. Police said he has been remanded on recall to prison.
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A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of threats to cause criminal damage and public order offences and also remains in police custody.
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A 61-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate and has been released on conditional bail.
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A 47-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, possession with intent to supply Class B drugs and possession of Class C drugs. She has also been released on conditional bail.
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An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, possession with intent to supply Class B drugs and possession of Class C drugs. He has been released on unconditional bail.
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A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, possession with intent to supply Class B drugs and possession of Class C drugs and has been released on conditional bail.
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Another 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of threats to kill and has also been released on conditional bail.