Teenage girl dies in ‘serious incident’
A16-YEAR-OLD girl has died following a serious incident in Rhondda Cynon Taf. The incident happened in Baglan Street, Ynyswen, Treorchy, at around noon yesterday.
Emergency services were in attendance at the scene for most of yesterday and the area remained cordoned off last night.
Police confirmed that they are investigating the “sudden and unexplained death of a 16-year-old girl”.
Officers said that the girl’s family were being supported by speciallytrained family liaison officers.
Efforts were continuing to contact other relatives.
Two men were arrested in connection with the incident and were last night in hospital receiving treatment for serious injuries.
Police activity was centred around the Blue Sky Chinese restaurant in
Baglan Street, Ynyswen.
South Wales Police said in a statement that the investigation was in its early stages.
But they confirmed that:
■ The incident is not being treated as a terrorist attack;
■ It is understood that those involved are known to each other; and,
■ Detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
Superintendent Rich Jones, from South Wales Police, said: “This is clearly a very serious incident which has caused significant shock and concern for both the local and wider community.
“We have a dedicated team of detectives working hard to establish the exact circumstances that have led to the tragic death of this young girl.
“While the investigation is still in its early stages, we can confirm that those involved are understood to know to each other and we are currently not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
“There will be significant police presence in Baglan Street over the weekend but we will reopen the road at the earliest opportunity.
“In the meantime, the support and understanding of the local community is very much appreciated.”
As the police launched their inquiry, a cordon was erected around the Blue Sky on Baglan Street, with a small white tent outside the premises.
John Belgrove, a builder, who lives on Baglan Street, said he was in his shed when his barking dogs alerted him to emergency services just after noon.
He told the Press Association news agency: “I came out and I counted over the next half an hour about 31 different emergency vehicles. I saw a lady crying uncontrollably and she had blood on her front.
“There was one man who was walking wounded with his head all bandaged up and they put him in the back of an ambulance.”
He said another man was treated by paramedics.
First Minister Mark Drakeford wrote on Twitter that news of the incident was “deeply concerning”.
He said: “I’m being kept informed of developments and my thoughts are with everyone in the community during this worrying time.”
Chris Bryant, Labour MP for Rhondda, wrote on Twitter that he was aware of “disturbing events on Baglan Street” and said his thoughts went out to all those affected.
Rhondda MS Leanne Wood said: “My thoughts go out to the people harmed in this incident, the local residents who may have witnessed it and the emergency services who responded to it.”
A spokesman for the Welsh Ambulance Service said they had sent one rapid response vehicle, three emergency ambulances, the hazardous area response team and the Wales Air Ambulance to the scene.
One neighbour said she saw “quite a few police cars” arrive in the area and knew it must be “something serious”.
Mavis Wakeford, 79, told the Press Association news agency: “It’s quiet, nothing like this has ever happened. I’ve lived here all my life and nothing like this has ever happened before.”
She added: “It’s something serious, obviously, it’s got to be, hasn’t it?”
Councillor Andrew Morgan, the leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf council, said he had been informed of “the major incident in Ynyswen” and thanked the emergency services for the “significant attendance which is ongoing”.
He added: “My thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident but please avoid the area until emergency services leave the location.”
Speaking to ITV news last night, MP Chris Bryant said: “I don’t think people need to be frightened or nervous, the police are completely in control of the situation.
“Until we know all the details it’s hard to know how one should respond. My concern is just to make sure that everyone in the Rhondda is safe, and the police have guaranteed that.
“It sounds like a horrific, terrible set of events, but I think it’s very self contained and people are safe.”
Images captured at the scene showed an area outside the Chinese takeaway closed off by boards put in place by police as well as a number of forensic investigators in full body suits.
One witness, who lives in a nearby street, said he saw a number of people standing on the pavement before the incident happened.
He was on his way to Treorchy and by the time he came back the whole area was cordoned off.
He said: “A friend of mine said he saw a paramedic treating one person at the scene.”
Police urged people on Facebook not to speculate over the incident. In a post on social media, a spokeswoman for South Wales Police wrote: “We would urge you refrain from speculation, this incident is ongoing and we will release more information when appropriate to do so. Thank you.”
A resident who lives nearby added: “I just came outside my house and I could see the first responder and then they all rushed and armed police came then.
“First of all it was like ‘what’s happening?’, and then there was the armed response. It’s not something you see in Ynyswen.”
■ Witnesses or anybody with information is urged to contact South Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously quoting *077519.