Police investigate major incident in Wales with 'number of casualties'

Police have launched an investigation into a “major incident” involving “a number of casualties” in a south Wales village.

Dozens of police officers and paramedics attended the incident in Ynyswen in Rhondda Cynon Taf on Friday afternoon.

Police officers’ attention was focused on an area around a Chinese takeaway, the Blue Sky, on Baglan Street in the village.

One neighbour, Mavis Wakeford, said: “It is very serious. The police have stopped me going out the back and told me to stay inside. You don’t expect anything like this to happen here – it is a quiet place.”

Some residents said armed police had attended. South Wales police said the incident had happened at about noon on Friday. The street was cordoned off and the force asked people to avoid the area and not to speculate on what had happened.

Chris Bryant, the Labour MP for Rhondda, tweeted that he was aware of “disturbing events on Baglan Street” and said his thoughts went out to all those affected.

He also said a nearby primary school was “aware of the incident and have taken all necessary precautions”.

A spokesman for the Welsh ambulance service said it had sent one rapid response vehicle, three emergency ambulances, the hazardous area response team and the Wales air ambulance to the scene.

In a statement, South Wales police said: “Police units are currently dealing with a serious incident. Ambulance crews are also in attendance as the incident involves a number of casualties.

“The street has been closed off and people are advised to avoid the area until further notice. Updates will be released when they are available.”

Councillor Andrew Morgan, the leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf county borough 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.”