Aberfan community shaken as 28-year-old charged after heavily pregnant woman attacked

In a shocking incident that unfolded in Aberfan, south Wales, a pregnant mother, aged 29, was brutally stabbed at least five times in a targeted attack while on her way to school. The suspect, 28-year-old Daniel Mihai Popescu, has been charged with attempted murder after a dramatic arrest involving at least ten armed police officers.

The harrowing incident occurred on Moy Road around 9:10 am, prompting a swift response from armed police officers who descended on the scene. Witnesses described the attack as a “targeted” one, with the victim being heavily pregnant and stabbed in the back multiple times.

After a seven-hour manhunt, police apprehended Popescu, taking him into custody. Subsequently, South Wales Police released a statement confirming the charges against him. Popescu, a resident of Merthyr, will appear at Merthyr Magistrates Court on Thursday, 7th December, at 10 am. Fortunately, the 29-year-old victim has been discharged from the hospital.

Eyewitness Katie Roberts shared her account of the horrifying event, recounting the screams she heard in the morning. She described seeing a man on top of the pregnant woman and initially mistaking the stabbing for punches. Roberts, along with other locals, rushed to aid the victim, providing towels to help staunch the bleeding. The assailant fled the scene.

The Aberfan community, already burdened with its own history, expressed shock and concern over the incident. A local mother mentioned the victim’s pregnancy, emphasizing that she was taking one of her children to school at the time of the attack. The community remains on edge as details of the investigation unfold, with residents expressing both sympathy for the victim and apprehension about the assailant’s escape.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of individuals, even in familiar surroundings, and raises questions about community safety and the need for heightened vigilance. As the suspect faces legal proceedings, the Aberfan community grapples with the aftermath of a horrifying assault on one of its own.