Aberfan: Man arrested over tried homicide of pregnant lady was ‘identified to sufferer’

Dec 05, 2023 at 6:38 PM

A pregnant lady stabbed in Aberfan, South Wales, was the sufferer of a “targeted attack” and an area man arrested on suspicion of tried homicide was “known to the victim,” police have mentioned.

The 29-year-old lady has been taken to hospital. Her accidents should not believed to be life-threatening, South Wales Police Chief Inspector Rob Miles mentioned.

The 28-year-old suspect was taken into police custody.

Local colleges and childcare services have been positioned into lockdown as a precaution after the incident.

Seven-hour police manhunt – as it happened

In a press release, Chief Inspector Miles mentioned: “I appreciate there will be a real sense of shock to the local community with the attack having happened in broad daylight.

“Local colleges activated their lockdown protocols to maintain individuals protected. Neighbourhood officers had been within the space to make sure pupils had been in a position to go away the faculties safely on the regular time. This was carried out as a precaution and colleges will open tomorrow as regular.

“This was a targeted attack. The woman remains in hospital with injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening at this time.”

The incident occurred on Moy Road simply earlier than 9.10am this morning.

Several native services – together with Greenfield School and The Trinity Childcare and Family Centre – locked down shortly after the police manhunt was launched.

Katie Roberts, who lives close to the scene, informed Sky News: “I heard some screams this morning. I looked out my window and saw a man on top of a woman.

“I assumed he was punching her at first – however then I realised he was stabbing her within the again.

“I ran out of the house immediately after. I ran to her in the street and held towels against her wounds.”

Valleys group ‘shocked’ after stabbing

“Everyone knows everyone,” that is how one resident described the group of Aberfan, in Merthyr Tydfil.

Those dwelling on this South Wales valleys group are all too acquainted with tragedy.

This was the very group devastated by the collapse of a colliery spoil tip in 1966, which killed 116 kids and 28 adults.

Today, when native nurseries and colleges have been put into lockdown, some feared the worst.

Pauline Hopkins, who lives on Moy Road, was out for a stroll when she informed me she had been left “shocked” by the incident.

“You hear about it in other places but when it’s on your doorstep, it’s different, isn’t it?”

Tom Power, whereas strolling his son residence from faculty after the lockdown was lifted, mentioned: “Most of the people are very close.”

“Crazy to think that kind of stuff happens,” he informed me.

With the replace from South Wales Police that the accidents obtained by the 29-year-old sufferer are “not believed to be life-threatening”, individuals listed here are relieved.

There is a way of reduction {that a} additional tragedy for this “close-knit” group has been averted.

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson mentioned: “We sent one emergency ambulance, one air ambulance and one Cymru high acuity response unit to the scene, where advanced critical care support was delivered by the emergency medical retrieval and transfer service.

“We conveyed one affected person by street to University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, for additional remedy.”