Organised crime arrests as police investigate A66 crash that killed two officers

Twelve people have been arrested as part of the investigation into the A66 crash that killed seven people, including two police officers.Nine men and three women, aged between 19 and 61, have been arrested across Teesside on suspicion of a range of offences including possession of a firearm and being part of an organised crime group.In the early hours of Saturday, a Volkswagen Passat that had been pursued by police travelled the wrong way down the A66 near Middlesbrough and crashed into an oncoming police car - two PCs and all five Passat occupants died.Cleveland Police said it was investigating "serious criminal activity that resulted in this fatal incident".PC Tom Clough, 38, and PC Matthew Blades, 37, died in the crash, as did Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jacob Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, Theo Rae, 17, and 17-year-old Cole Robert Worthy.Earlier, Cleveland Police released more details of its investigation into the lead-up to the crash and information about the 12 people it had arrested.The force said:It received several reports of two vehicles "being driven dangerously" on Saturday morningThe first vehicle, believed to be a Volvo XC60, was seen "ramming properties" in the Middlesbrough areaThe second vehicle, a Passat, is believed to have been associated with this activityBoth vehicles were operating with cloned number plates but were picked up by automated number plate recognition technologyThe Volvo has been recovered in MiddlesbroughFour of the five people in the Passat had previous convictionsAssistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox said the investigation had been "fast moving and complex".He said: "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."An online fundraiser set up for the officers' families by the Cleveland Police Federation has raised more than £500,000.PC Blades' wife said he "gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness".Before joining Cleveland Police, PC Blades worked as an English teacher at Carmel College in Darlington.The college said: "Many within our community will remember Matty as an intelligent, kind and approachable teacher, a valued colleague and someone who gave generously of himself to the young people in his care."The family of PC Clough described the former soldier as "our hero".They said he "jumped into action whenever needed" and was "willing to help anyone for any reason".The family statement added that he "proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place".Flags at Cleveland Police headquarters are flying at half-mast and Redcar and Cleveland Council has opened a book of condolence at its offices on Ridley Street in Redcar.Floral tributes can also be left at the memorial garden at the force's headquarters in Hemlington or any Cleveland Police station, the council said.Tributes for the five young men have also been shared on social media, with many of their friends saying they were "heartbroken" and "lost for words". Balloon releases have been announced in their memory.Follow BBC Tees on X,, external Facebook, external, Nextdoor and Instagram, external and listen to Radio Tees on BBC Sounds.