Aberfan witness reveals ‘heavily pregnant’ woman, 29, was stabbed ‘twice in the back’ by knifeman as she ‘turned away from him to try to protect her baby’
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By Tom Cotterill[1] and Elizabeth Haigh[2] and Tom Bedford[3] and Iwan Stone[4]
Published: 16:41, 5 December 2023 | Updated: 19:05, 5 December 2023
A knifeman in Aberfan stabbed a heavily pregnant woman in a ‘targeted’, the police reveal as a suspect is arrested after a huge seven-hour manhunt.
Police detained a 28-year-old man from Merthyr, who is known to the victim, on suspicion of attempted murder at 3.50pm today.
It comes after a horrified witness to the horrific attack revealed how the victim, who is 37-weeks-pregnant, was knifed twice in the back as she attempted to shield her unborn child from the onslaught.
Police said her injuries are not life threatening and it’s understood there are ‘no issues’ with her baby due to be born at Christmas[5].
Armed police swooped on Moy Road, Aberfan, in the South Wales village shortly after 9am today when the 29-year-old woman was reportedly found in a pool of blood on the pavement.
He is being held in custody at Merthyr Tydfil Police station, while the victim remains in hospital with injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening.
Chief Inspector Rob Miles said: ‘South Wales Police were called just before 9.10am this morning with a report that a 29-year-old woman had been stabbed on Moy Road, Aberfan, Merthyr. The suspect left the scene immediately.
Pictured is the moment armed officers arrested one suspect on suspicion of attempted murder
Armed police are pictured outside the scene of one of the properties after a male suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder
Chief Inspector Rob Miles (pictured) said the force believe the attack was ‘targeted’
‘At 3.50pm this afternoon a 28-year-old man from Merthyr, who is known to the victim, was arrested in the Merthyr area on suspicion of attempted murder and is currently in police custody.
‘Local schools activated their lockdown protocols to keep pupils safe and neighbourhood officers remained in the area to ensure pupils were able to leave school safely at their normal time. This was done as a precaution and schools will be open as normal tomorrow.
‘I appreciate that there will be a real sense of shock within the local community with the attack having happened in broad daylight.
‘I would like to reassure the public that we believe this to be a targeted attack.
‘There will be an increased police presence in the area over the coming days to provide reassurance to local residents and the wider community.
‘I would like to thank the local community for their patience and support throughout today’s police operation whilst we traced and arrested the suspect.’
‘The woman remains in hospital with injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening at this time.’
A witness to the terrifying incident has spoken out about the moment the man launched an attack against the pregnant woman, who was running away from the knifeman ‘screaming’.
The witness said the victim was running towards her ‘screaming’
Police arrested a 28-year-old man from Merthyr, who is known to the victim, on suspicion of attempted murder at 3.50pm today
The woman was attacked on Moy Road in Aberfan, South Wales
Speaking to Sky News[6], the woman said: ‘She ran towards me screaming.
He knocked her to the floor and stabbed her twice in the back.
‘He proceeded to go for her again but she moved because she was pregnant and was protecting that baby.’
The alleged knifeman was arrested after armed police surrounded a house in the village of Troedyrhiw, three miles from the scene of the stabbing.
Heroic neighbours came to her rescue after hearing her piercing screams.
Four armed officers burst into the pale yellow three-bedroomed terraced property at 3.30pm while neighbours were advised to stay indoors.
Police were inside for 30 minutes before the front door opened and a man in a black hoodie was bundled into the rear of a police car and driven off.
Eye-witness Lynette Tyner, 51, said: ‘There were armed police everywhere and four of them went into the house.
‘They were inside for about half-an-hour before they brought him out in handcuffs.
‘He was quiet and calm and had nothing on his feet.’
Armed police are patrolling Aberfan after a woman was stabbed by a knifeman
Armed police standing guard outside a property in Wyndham Street in Merthyr Tydfil
Lynette Tyner, 51, who saw the suspect being arrested by armed police
The owner of the property was outside on the pavement waiting to be interviewed by CID officers.
Schools, community centres and public buildings in a five mile radius went into lockdown while the suspect was on the run. Neighbours ran into the street with pillows and blankets while emergency services arrived.
The woman, who according to locals is ‘heavily pregnant’, was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff for treatment. South Wales Police said that her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
Veterinary nurse Katie Roberts, 31, was one of the first on the scene.
She told MailOnline: ‘I was at home when I heard screaming and thought it was children messing about.
But I look out of the window and saw a man with a large knife in his hand standing over a woman on the road outside.
‘He was stabbing her in the back and when I and other neighbours ran outside he ran off.’
Katie said the woman was still conscious but bleeding quite badly from multiple stab wounds.
Armed police, paramedics and an air ambulance were scrambled to Moy Road
Neighbours ran into the street with pillows and blankets while emergency services arrived
Police officers at the scene in Aberfan as police respond to a ‘major incident’
She said: ‘She was very brave and worried about her baby – she is 37 weeks pregnant. It was shocking, another neighbour dialled 99 and the police were here quickly. I’m just hoping she is going to be alright.’
The woman had reportedly driven her children to a school in a neighbouring village and was about to walk back into her terraced home in Moy Road at 9.10am when the man pounced.
In a statement earlier today, South Wales Police said: ‘The suspect left the scene immediately after the incident and enquiries are ongoing to find him.
A search of the immediate area is being carried out by armed officers.
‘Local schools have activated their lockdown protocols to keep pupils safe whilst the incident is ongoing.
‘We continue to request that people avoid the area so that we can effectively deal with this incident. The woman has been taken to hospital with injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening at this time.’
Lynne Terrett, from Merthyr Tydfil, said her daughter, Kira Terrett, was walking her dog near home when she saw the attack.
‘My daughter screamed and people came out from everywhere,’ she said, adding: ‘If she had not screamed, people would not have gone out.’
Images from the scene show multiple emergency service vehicles in attendance. Forensic officers can be seen gathering evidence with a police cordon at Coronation Place, which connects to Moy Road.
Forensic officers could be seen gathering evidence at the scene on Tuesday lunchtime
A wide cordon remained in place throughout the day on Tuesday
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called today at approximately 9:10am to reports of an incident in Aberfan, Merthyr Tydfil.
‘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 patient by road to University Hospital Of Wales, Cardiff for further treatment.’
Villager Gareth Jones, 64, told MailOnline: ‘She’s not been here for long and was heavily pregnant – not far from giving birth.
‘She was taking her child to one of the local schools when this man came out of nowhere and stabbed her in the street.
‘It looks like the fellow is still on the loose, there are police everywhere.’
An air ambulance landed on the nearby Taff Trail walking track to take the woman to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.
Mr Jones continued: ‘Another police helicopter was hovering above the village and the street has been cordoned off.
Parents queue to collect children from Aberfan Primary school, South Wales as Police continue the hunt for a man who stabbed a woman in the area earlier today
A police van was seen on the grounds of Afon Taf High School near Aberfan this afternoon
Forensic investigators were spotted gathering evidence at the scene of the stabbing
‘You can see the pillow and blankets that people gave the women to keep her comfortable until an ambulance arrived.’
The attack happened just half a mile from the scene of the 1966 Aberfan disaster when 116 children and 28 adults were killed when a colliery tip collapsed onto the village school.
Mr Jones, one of the few children to survive the catastrophe, added: ‘The air ambulance landed behind the Aberfan disaster memorial gardens.
This is the most police activity we’ve had in the village since that dreadful day.
‘There are forensic officers in white suits at the spot where she was attacked. Everyone is just praying the woman is going to be ok.’
One of the schools locked down over the scare was Greenfield School, which is a special needs school. Posting on X, headteacher Rhiannon Davies said: ‘Dear Parents and Carers, We are aware of an ongoing police incident in Aberfan.
‘We just wanted to reassure you that as a precaution we are keeping the pupils safe inside the building, and all perimeter gates are locked.’
Shortly before 2pm she added: ‘I can now confirm that we are not in lockdown and are resuming our normal procedures.
‘However, we have decided to postpone our Christmas Fayre until tomorrow evening.
The Christmas Fayre will now be on Wednesday 6th of December at 4pm.’
Trinity Childcare and Family Centre also confirmed it had locked down ‘as a precaution’.
Police at the scene of the attack in Aberfan, South Wales
Police are asking people to stay away from the area and not to post ‘speculative’ comments on social media
A person has been stabbed and rushed to hospital for further treatment, the Welsh Ambulance Service said
Police confirmed they were called to Moy Way, Aberfan at 9.10am this morning
A spokesperson said: ‘Trinity Childcare and Family Centre Ltd Aberfan are currently in lockdown as a precaution due to an incident within the Community. All staff and children are safe.’
Ynysown Primary School was also in lockdown, with parents receiving text messages informing them that all children are safe.
Parents were told: ‘Due to an incident in the locality school is currently on lockdown as a precautionary measure. All children are well, we will update parents in due course.
Please do not call the school as we are keeping the lines free in case police need to call.’
First Minister for Wales Mark Drakeford told the Senedd his thoughts are with those caught up in the incident in Aberfan today.
Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies mentioned the incident in the Senedd on Tuesday, saying his thoughts were with the village.
He said: ‘Can I echo what the leader of the opposition is saying about events unfolding in Aberfan? I was grateful to the briefing I received from Dawn Bowden, the constituency MS, about the events which continue to unfold.
‘For the moment our thoughts remain with the people caught up in them. There will be more, no doubt, that we will learn.’
MP for Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney Gerald Jones said: ‘I have spoken to police regarding a serious incident in Aberfan this morning.
‘You may see an increased police presence in the area and I’d encourage everyone to co-operate with police officers as they deal with the incident.’
Speaking to Sky News, he added: ‘Aberfan is a very close knit, tight community. The community centre and the schools are very close by, hence the reason why police are keen for people not to go to the area.
‘The community centre has closed its doors for the moment, and the schools have locked down as well because they are in very close proximity to Moy Road.
The community, as I said, is a very tight-knit community so there is, undoubtedly, serious concern within the community.’
He added that he had been assured by police that they were dealing with the incident ‘as quickly and effectively as they can’.
Member of the Senedd for Merthyr Tydfil, Dawn Bowden added: ‘I am aware of a serious incident in Aberfan this morning. I have spoken to the Police and will await further information from them. However, please take advice given by the Police who will be grateful for your co-operation while this incident is dealt with.
Thank you.’
A local community centre was also closed ‘until further notice’.
Wellbeing Methyr confirmed: ‘Due to an ongoing police incident in Aberfan, the Community Centre will be closed until further notice.’
References
- ^ Tom Cotterill (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Elizabeth Haigh (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Tom Bedford (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Iwan Stone (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Christmas (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Sky News (www.dailymail.co.uk)