A pregnant mum is recovering in hospital today after she was stabbed on the school run - as detectives continue to question the suspected knifeman.
Romanian Andreea Pintilli, 29, was stabbed "at least five times" after her attacker targeted her at 9.10am on Tuesday. The mum-of-two, 29, was under police guard in hospital as doctors checked on the health of her unborn baby due at Christmas.
She was rushed to hospital after the knife horror on a street corner as dozens of parents took their children to school. Police later said her condition was "not life-threatening" following the attack in Aberfan, South Wales.
The Home Bargains shop assistant had only moved to a new house in the former pit village along with her two children a month ago. One villager said: "We are all still stunned by what happened. You just don't expect something like that on your doorstep. Thank god it sounds like she and the baby are going to be ok. I can't stop thinking about that poor woman."
Police are continuing to quiz a 28-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder following the stabbing. Passerby Katie Roberts, 31, a veterinary nurse, heard screams from her home before she rushed out to help the victim. She said: "I was at home when I heard screaming and thought it was kids messing about.
"I looked out the window and saw a man...When I and other neighbours ran outside he ran off. She was very brave and worried about her baby — she is 37 weeks' pregnant. It was shocking. Another neighbour dialled 999 and the police were here quickly. I'm just hoping she is going to be all right."
A seven-hour manhunt was launched before armed officers arrested a man, also from Romania, at a terrace house one-and-a-half miles away in Troedyrhiw and led him to a police van. Police said the victim's injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
Andreea's former partners Teodor Balan, 34, described her as a "very good mother" to their two children and said he was still close with her despite splitting in 2020. He said: "Thank God she is OK. I was so worried about her. 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.
"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." Schools and a community centre were placed in lockdown in the former pit village of Aberfan as a police helicopter and dozens of armed officers searched for the fugitive knifeman.
The stabbing happened just yards from where 144 people died when colliery spoil tip collapsed and covered a school in 1966. Chief Inspector Rob Miles, of South Wales Police, said a 28-year-old man from Troedyrhiw, Merthyr, was arrested on suspicion of attempt murder. He said: "He is known to the victim and is currently in police custody. It was a targeted attack."