Station put in lockdown for wanted man search
ARMED police evacuated Swansea Train Station as part of a major hunt for a man connected with a murder investigation yesterday.
The train station was placed on lockdown when armed officers from DyfedPowys Police arrived at the scene shortly before 10am and evacuated the area.
Their presence was due to information they had received which told them that wanted man Steve Baxter was due to arrive on an incoming train.
Baxter is wanted on suspicion of murder following the death of Simon Clark in Pendine last week.
Mr Clark’s body was found in the Grove Park Caravan Park in Pendine on the morning of Friday, September 28 and a manhunt for Baxter was subsequently launched.
The hunt for Baxter, who is also known as Steve Rowley, Wayne Tidy and William Tid, continues after he was not seen at Swansea train station yesterday morning.
Eye-witness Peter Wallington, who lives in Gorseinon, was at the train station at the time of this morning’s evacuation. “I was about to buy a ticket at the station when we were all told to leave,” he said. “There was armed police and police everywhere inside, everyone was rushed off the trains and told to go outside.”
Arriva Trains Wales anticipated some disruption to services running in and out of Swansea for some time, as a result of the morning incident.
“There will be some service disruption as there were no trains moving in or out of the station during the incident,” a spokesman for the company said. “We’d like to thank customers for their patience and understanding during this incident.
“We work closely with the British Transport Police to keep all passengers safe when using the rail network.”
A spokesman for Dyfed Powys Police said: “Firearms teams searched the area and the station was evacuated as a precaution. The suspect was not in the station and it has now re-opened.”
The force did confirm, however, that “the police presence at Swansea Train Station is linked to the search for Steve Baxter, who is wanted on suspicion of the murder of Simon Clark, which happened on Thursday, September 27 in Pendine.”
Following yesterday’s incident Dyfed-Powys Police has issued further information to assist in the search for Baxter. He is 5’5” and has tattoos on his forearms – the name Chez and entwined circles on his left arm and a serpent on his right arm. He also has a Yorkshire accent.
Detective superintendent Huw Davies said: “This extra information will hopefully assist members of the community who are helping us with our search for this man, who is considered to be dangerous.
“I would urge anyone who has information as to his whereabouts to contact police on 999 as soon as possible. Please do not approach him.”