Two Arrested After Gunshots Hit Car in Swansea, Triggering Critical Incident

Police in south Wales have arrested a 41-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy after a car was damaged by gunshots in the Morriston area of Swansea on Friday, the BBC reported. Residents have been told to stay away from the area, roads are closed and a local firework display has been called off.

South Wales Police said a vehicle on the A48 in Morriston had damage "consistent with a firearms discharge." The force declared a critical incident and said its investigation was continuing.

What this means for people in Morriston

The most immediate effect is on daily movement around the area. According to the BBC, South Wales Police said the incident was ongoing and that road closures were in place. Residents were asked to avoid the area so officers could deal with the situation and return it to normal.

Chief Superintendent Stephen Jones said a visible police presence would remain in the area while the investigation continues. He stressed that keeping people away would allow officers to work effectively.

Community events have also been affected. Morriston Town AFC, the local football club, cancelled a planned firework display on Friday. In a social media post, the club said police had advised that an ongoing issue meant the event had to be called off with immediate effect. It also advised people to stay at home.

Who has been arrested and why

Police said the 41-year-old man, from the Llansamlet area of Swansea, was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. The 16-year-old boy, also from Llansamlet, was arrested on suspicion of affray.

Both arrests are on suspicion only. Neither person has been charged, according to the information the BBC reported. Details of what led to the shooting were not disclosed.

What video from the scene shows

The BBC said video circulating online shows police officers standing beside a stationary car on Clase Road, near an Asda superstore. The vehicle appears to have been struck by a shotgun blast. The BBC described the footage as circulating online and did not say police had confirmed what it shows.

A National Police Air Service helicopter circled the area during the response but has since returned to base, the BBC reported.

What police have said about the response

South Wales Police said armed officers responded to the incident. The force has not publicly set out how long the closures and the heightened police presence are expected to last. Its message to the public has been consistent: avoid the area while officers work.

Declaring a critical incident means the force is treating the situation as a serious matter that requires an ongoing response. In this case, the declaration came alongside the road closures and the advice to residents.

What happens next

Police said the investigation is continuing and that officers will remain visible in the area while it does. The two people arrested remain under investigation on the suspicions described above. Further updates are expected from South Wales Police as the situation develops, including on when closures are lifted and the area returns to normal.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by BBC News