Aberfan witness reveals 'heavily pregnant' woman, 29, was stabbed 'twice in the back' by knifeman and ran to 'try to protect her baby' - as police arrest suspect after manhunt

A horrified witness to the stabbing of a 'heavily pregnant' woman has revealed how the crazed attacker knifed his victim twice in the back as she attempted to shield her unborn child from the onslaught. 

Armed police swooped on Moy Road, Aberfan, in the South Wales village shortly after 9am today after the 29-year-old woman was reportedly found in a pool of blood on the pavement.

Locals say a suspected knifeman had been 'lying in wait' for his victim, who was repeatedly stabbed during a bloody attack, which triggered an urgent manhunt. Police have since arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder. 

Now a witness to the terrifying incident has spoken out about the moment the man launched his savage attack against the pregnant woman, who was running away from the knifeman 'screaming'.

Speaking to Sky News, 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.

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.

Police later said a 28-year-old man from Merthyr Tydfil had been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

He is being held in custody at Merthyr Tydfil Police station.

Eye-witness Lynette Tyner(CORR), 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.'

The owner of the property was outside on the pavement waiting to be interviewed by CID officers.

A statement from South Wales Police said: 'Following a report that a 29-year-old woman had been stabbed on Moy Road, Aberfan, Merthyr earlier this morning, officers have arrested a 28-year-old man from Merthyr on suspicion of attempted murder.

'He is currently in police custody.'

Multiple schools and childcare centres were placed on lockdown amid a police hunt for the suspect. 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.

Lynne Terrett, from Merthyr Tydfil, said her daughter, Kira Terrett, was walking her dog near home when she saw the attack.

She said her daughter looked around when 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 the knifeman fled, adding: 'If she had not screamed, people would not have gone out.

Police said the woman was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff for treatment.

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.

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.'

Katie said her husband saw the man loitering outside the woman's home in Moy Road, Aberfan, shortly before the attack.

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.

She added: 'My husband didn't recognise him, he's not from around here. He was loitering on the corner of the street and knew what his intention was.'

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.'

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. 

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.

'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.'

A mother said that her daughter's scream alerted neighbours to the stabbing. Lynne Terrett, from Merthyr Tydfil, said 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. 

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'.

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.'