Yahoo News What we know about the Aberfan stabbing
Daniel Mihai Popescu, 28, from Merthyr, was arrested on Tuesday and has been charged with attempted murder of Andreea Pintilli, 29, as well as witness intimidation and stalking.
A man has appeared in court charged with attempted murder after a 29-year-old pregnant woman was stabbed in the Welsh village of Aberfan.
Andreea Pintilli was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff with injuries which were not believed to be life-threatening, according to South Wales Police. She was later discharged.
Daniel Mihai Popescu, 28, from Merthyr, was arrested on Tuesday and was charged with attempted murder on Wednesday.
He appeared at Merthyr Magistrates' Court on Thursday morning, dressed in a grey tracksuit, and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, and to confirm he understood the charges.
Popescu did not enter a plea. The case was referred to Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court by District Judge Neale Thomas and he will appear again in court on 4 January.
Here's what we know so far:
What we know
South Wales Police declared a major incident after responding to reports of a stabbing on Moy Road in Aberfan at about 9.10am on Tuesday morning.
Police launched a manhunt before confirming an arrest had been made at around 4.30pm.
On Wednesday, they confirmed in a statement a man had been charged.
Police said: "Daniel Mihai Popescu, aged 28, from Merthyr has today, Wednesday 6 December, been charged with attempt (sic) murder following an incident on Moy Road, Aberfan, Merthyr, yesterday morning.
"The 29-year-old woman who was injured during the incident has been discharged from hospital."
Police said the arrested man was known to the victim and that there would be an increased police presence in the area to reassure local residents.
Popescu made a first appearance in court at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning, charged with attempted murder, witness intimidation and stalking.
He was dressed in a grey tracksuit and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth and that he understood the charges as he was assisted by an interpreter during the short administrative hearing.
There was no application for bail and a judge said that the case was so serious it could only be heard at the crown court.
Charges allege that Popescu, of no fixed address, tried to murder Ms Pintilli in Coronation Place, Aberfan,
He allegedly tried to intimidate her, knowing or believing that she was a witness, by attacking her, intending “to cause the course of justice to be obstructed, perverted or interfered with”, on the same date.
Popescu is accused of stalking Ms Pintili between October 25 and December 6 by following her, calling her from withheld numbers and recording a video of her which he uploaded to TikTok.
Speaking shortly after the incident, Susan Prothero, who has lived in Aberfan for 30 years, told PA: “(It’s) a very quiet area.
“I have lived here 30 years and nothing like this has happened here.”
On Tuesday, schools and a community centre were placed in lockdown in the former pit village as a police helicopter and dozens of armed officers searched for the fugitive knifeman.
The alleged stabbing happened just yards from where 144 people died when colliery spoil tip collapsed and covered a school in 1966.
