Aberfan stabbing – live: Armed police arrest suspect over ‘attempted murder’ of pregnant woman in south Wales
Schools and nursery have been put into lockdown including Afon Taf High School, Greenfield Special School and nursery Trinity Childcare and Family Centre
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Armed police have arested South Wales after a 29-year-old ‘pregnant’ woman was stabbed, leading to a large scale manhunt.
After several hours, a 28-year-old man from Merthyr Tydfil was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and was escorted into police custody.
Several schools in Aberfan had been placed into lockdown as the force urged people to avoid the area.
Schools closed included Afon Taf High School, Greenfield Special School and nursery Trinity Childcare and Family Centre.
Trinity Childcare and Family Centre, added: “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.”
Gerald Jones, MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, 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.”
The Welsh village is known for being the site of the Aberfan disaster, when a coal tip on the hillside descended onto several houses and a school in 1966, killing 144 people, 116 of whom were children.
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Member of the Senedd issues statement
Dawn Bowden, the Welsh Labour & Co-Operative Party Member of the Senedd for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, said: “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.”
Greenfield School locks perimeter gates
In a statement, Greenfield School said they had locked the perimeter gates, while a suspect is on the run after a 29-year-old woman was stabbed.
The headteacher 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.”
Locator map shows scene of Aberfan stabbing
Aberfan is a ‘close-knit community’, says local MP
Aberfan is a “close-knit community” that will have “serious concern” following the stabbing of a 29-year-old woman, the MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney has said
Labour MP Gerald Jones told Sky News on Tuesday: “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”.
Full statement from South Wales Police
In a statement, they 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 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.”
Full story: Manhunt after woman stabbed in South Wales village as schools on lockdown
Schools have been placed in lockdown as armed police hunt for a knifeman who attacked a woman in a rural Welsh town.
The 29-year-old woman was knifed in Aberfan, South Wales, following reports of the stabbing near a school, police said.
Up to six schools have been placed into lockdown in a three-mile wide radius as South Wales Police urged people to avoid the area after the stabbing at 9.10am.
Read the full article here
Schools on lockdown as armed police called out to ‘serious assault’
Armed police were called to Aberfan in south Wales following reports of a stabbing
Large police cordon remains in place
A large police cordon is in place along Moy Road and Coronation Place, with locals warned to steer clear and to follow police guidance.
A spokesperson for South Wales Police confirmed that the incident remains ongoing and the suspect has not been arrested.
Screams alerted neighbours to the stabbing of ‘pregnant’ woman
A mother has said that her daughter’s scream alerted neighbours to the stabbing of a “pregnant” 29-year-old woman in South Wales.
Lynne Terrett, from Merthyr Tydfil, said that her daughter, Kira Terrett, was walking her dog near her home in Aberfan when she witnessed the incident.
She said that her daughter looked around after she heard the sound of the woman running towards her. “(The woman) fell,” she said. “My daughter screamed, and people came out from everywhere.” She said that man who stabbed the woman then fled the scene.
“If she had not screamed, people would not have gone out,” she said. She added that her daughter was “very shook up” following the incident, and said that the victim was pregnant.
School lockdown lifted
Greenfield School has said it is no longer in lockdown after police advised schools in the area to close their doors as its armed officers frantically searched for a suspect.
The school earlier issued a statement to parents saying that it was keeping the pupils safe inside the building and all perimeter gates had been locked.
