Police charge man, 28, with attempted murder after pregnant woman, 29, was stabbed in Aberfan

Police have charged a man with attempted murder after a heavily pregnant mother-of-two was stabbed in Aberfan.

Daniel Mihai Popescu, aged 28, from Merthyr has been charged with attempted murder. 

Mother-of-two Andreea Pintilli, 29, and her unborn baby both miraculously survived being stabbed by an attacker outside the family home in Aberfan, south Wales, as she returned from taking her children to school on Monday. 

Police previously confirmed they had arrested a 28-year-old man from Merthyr, who is known to the victim, on suspicion of attempted murder after a seven-hour manhunt. 

In a statement, South Wales Police said: 'Daniel Mihai Popescu, aged 28, from Merthyr has today, Wednesday 6th December, been charged with attempt (sic) murder following an incident on Moy Road, Aberfan, Merthyr, yesterday morning.

'He will appear at Merthyr Magistrates Court tomorrow morning, Thursday 7th December at 10am.

'The 29-year-old woman who was injured during the incident has been discharged from hospital.'

Police confirmed that Ms Pintilli has now been discharged from hospital after being stabbed 'at least five times' with a large knife in a horrifying daylight attack.

Popescu will appear at Merthyr Magistrates Court tomorrow morning.

Armed police swooped on Moy Road, Aberfan, in the south Wales village shortly after 9am yesterday when the mother - who had moved to the area with her two children last month - was reportedly found in a pool of blood on the pavement.

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.

Last night Ms Pintilli's ex-partner Teodor Balan, 34, who is the father of her two children, said: 'Thank God she is OK, I was so worried about her'. 

He added: 'She is a very good mother, she is looking after the children very well. It was difficult for her to bring up two children while working part time.' 

Mr Balan, who was in a relationship with her for nearly ten years until 2020, told the newspaper that he was 'so worried' about Andreea, who was working part-time at Home Bargains to support her family financially. 

'She called me in the morning. I'm still friends with her. I helped her move her stuff, and helped her paint. We moved just over a week ago.' 

The suspected 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. 

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.