Cardiff: Bute Park attack leaves man with life-threatening injuries

Millennium Bridge in Bute Park was cordoned off by police

A man has been left with life-threatening injuries after being assaulted in a city park, police have said.

Large parts of Bute Park, in Cardiff, were cordoned off after police were called to reports of an assault at about 01:10 BST on Tuesday.

A man sustained serious head injures and is being treated at the University Hospital of Wales.

South Wales Police said it was a "violent and sustained attack".

Det Ch Insp Mark O'Shea said: "To subject another person to violence in this way is intolerable, and we are carrying out a number of lines of inquiries to locate those involved.

"We know a number of people were around the area, and in Bute Park, at the time so if you witnessed the incident, or may have heard what took place, please come forward."

Initially, only an area around Servini's cafe was closed off

A major incident room has been set up at Cardiff Central Police Station as officers investigate the crime.

The force urged anyone who was in the Castle Street area between midnight and 02:00 on Tuesday, and has any dash cam or mobile phone footage, to share it with them.

Members of the public were urged to stay away from the park, which would normally be very busy on a sunny day, while some entrances to the park, including the Millennium Bridge over the River Taff, had been shut.

Initially, a smaller area around Servini's cafe was cordoned off, but the police later expanded the area.

Some entrances to Bute Park were closed, including this one by Pettigrew's tearooms

Cardiff council said: "Prior to the pandemic, key city centre entrances to Bute Park were locked every night at sunset.

"The park is a large public open space and while it is not possible to prevent access after dark entirely, following the two recent serious incidents in the park, a decision has been taken to return to this locking regime with immediate effect."