Armed police have swooped on the Welsh village of Aberfan after what is being described by police as a “serious assault”. One person has been taken to hospital following the incident and schools and community centres are currently locked down. There is a major emergency services presence and police are telling people to avoid the area.
Officers responded to the incident on Moy Road in Aberfan just before 9.10am on Tuesday morning, South Wales Police has said. The incident is on-going and a spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “Emergency services are responding to [a] serious assault that took place on Moy Road, Aberfan, Merthyr just before 9.10am this morning. Armed officers are in the area, and we request that people avoid the area so that we can effectively deal with this incident.”
A spokesperson for the Welsh Ambulance Service said: “We were called today (05 Dec), 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.”
The area’s MP, 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.” And the area’s MS Dawn Bowden 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.”
Schools and community centres in the area are posting that they are “currently in lockdown as a precaution due to an incident within the community”.
Follow our live updates below:
11:49Reem Ahmed
Primary school sent text messages to parents announcing lockdown
Nation Cymru reports that text messages were sent to parents of pupils of Ynysowen Primary School in Aberfan announcing the school was had been locked down. The texts said: “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 incase police need to call.”
11:41Reem Ahmed
Merthyr Tydfil MP and MS issue statements
Merthyr Tydfil MP 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.”
And the area’s MS Dawn Bowden 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.”
11:38Reem Ahmed
Childcare centre in lockdown
A childcare centre has also gone into lockdown. In a post on Facebook just after 10am this morning, the Trinity Childcare and Family Centre Ltd Aberfan said it was “currently in lockdown as a precaution due to an incident within the community.” It added that all staff and children are safe.
11:35Key Event
One person taken to hospital
We’ve just got this statement from the Welsh Ambulance Service which was called to the scene:
“We were called today (05 Dec), 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.”
11:33Reem Ahmed
School locks down
A local school has locked down after the incident. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) just after 11am, the headteacher of Greenfield School, which is a special needs school, said all perimeter gates have been locked and pupils are being kept indoors.
11:24Reem Ahmed
Community centre closes until further notice
A community centre in the area has closed until further notice following the incident. Wellbeing@Merthyr has just issued this statement on social media:
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William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.