Cardiff Central train station was at the centre of a tense and extensive search operation after alarming reports that a man had boarded a train with a firearm. On July 22, Saturday morning, armed police swiftly responded to the situation, causing trains to come to a halt and commencing a thorough examination of carriages and stations.
The British Transport Police were alerted shortly after 11am on Saturday when passengers reported a man boarding a train at Newport station, purportedly carrying a firearm. A spokesman from the British Transport Police confirmed the incident, stating, “Officers conducted a full and thorough search of trains and stations. No one matching this description was located, and enquiries are continuing.”
The scene at Cardiff Central was nothing short of tense and dramatic. Passengers recounted seeing officers meticulously scouring toilets on trains and thoroughly examining the areas surrounding the platforms. Shocking images captured armed police officers present inside one of the train carriages, further underlining the gravity of the situation.
A passenger, identified as Grace, who was on the 11.25 am train from Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour, shared her experience with WalesOnline. She said, “We boarded the 11.25 am train from Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour, they let everyone board then said we all had to get off the train. Five minutes later, they let us back on the train. All trains were stopped from arriving and departing the train station.”
Grace continued, “At 11.32 am, armed police began arriving around our platform 2, and at 11.40 am, armed police entered the carriages asking to see everyone’s hands, there were many of them all around our platform and some on other platforms. At 11.49 am, the armed guards began searching all the buildings.”
Throughout the search operation, authorities displayed a high level of vigilance and caution. Passengers were temporarily offloaded from the trains while law enforcement personnel took swift action to ensure public safety.
As the situation unfolded, passengers’ emotions ran high, but the professionalism and dedication of the armed police ensured that the operation proceeded in an orderly and methodical manner. Despite the extensive search, no individual matching the description of the armed man was found on the trains or at the station.
In response to the incident, British Transport Police emphasised their commitment to investigating such reports thoroughly and reassured the public that their safety remains paramount.
