Tributes as van rampage kills woman

Tributes have been paid to a woman killed in a hit-and-run rampage which saw pedestrians knocked down like bowling pins.

Eyewitnesses told of their horror after watching a van mount the kerb at a number of locations in Cardiff in what appeared to be a deliberate attempt to harm people.

The dead woman - named locally as Karina Menzies, a 32-year-old mother - was among seven children and four adults hurt during the afternoon crime spree. She died after being knocked down outside a fire station in the Welsh capital.

Police are questioning a 31-year-old man on suspicion of murder. Officers are still combing the crime scenes for evidence.

Facebook user Katy Johanna Benson wrote: "Rest in piece Karina Menzies. Sleep tight beautiful angel and may the scum responsible for this senseless, evil murder be brought to justice. Cant imagine what her family are feeling."

South Wales Police received calls about an incident in Crossways Road in Ely at 3.30pm. There were soon reports of hit-and-run collisions in several locations in the west of the city, including Grand Avenue, Cowbridge Road West and the Leckwith Retail Park.

Ely sub-postmaster Shady Taha, 29, told of one of the incidents, in Grand Avenue. He said two girls aged about 10 and a woman in her mid-20s had just left the shop when "all of a sudden I heard a bang". He said: "I looked out and across the road one girl was on the floor and the other girl was screaming. I heard a van speed off but I did not see it."

The A&E department at the University Hospital of Wales was initially shut to anyone not involved in the incident but has now reopened. Dr Grahame Shortland, medical director at the hospital, said those being treated mostly had fractures and head injuries.

Among the crime scenes are Ely Fire Station, an area near the Merrie Harrier pub in Llandough on the outskirts of Cardiff where the suspect was arrested, and Leckwith Retail Park, next to the Cardiff City Stadium.

Superintendent Julian Williams, of South Wales Police, confirmed the force had arrested a 31-year-old man on suspicion of murder. He said: "Whether the actions were deliberate or reckless is a matter for the inquiry and the person will obviously be spoken to."