Three teenagers were struck by air pellets in Malpas woodland; Gwent Police are appealing for information
The local community in Newport has been left shaken after three teenagers were injured during an incident in woodland behind Graham Bell Close in the Malpas area. According to police accounts, a group of three youths — a 14-year-old girl and two boys aged 14 and 15 — were approached by three men while in the trees and undergrowth.
One man is reported to have been carrying what witnesses described as an air weapon. All three teenagers suffered wounds consistent with being struck by air pellets, and one 14-year-old boy later needed hospital attention for injuries consistent with a physical assault.
Officers from Gwent Police were alerted to the incident the same evening, with initial contact recorded as occurring at around 7pm on Friday and an official report referring to around 6.45pm on Friday 10 April. As inquiries proceed, detectives are urging anyone who saw activity in the woodland or the surrounding streets at that time to get in touch.
The force has emphasised that enquiries remain active, and information from passers-by or residents could prove vital as investigators piece together what happened and who was involved.
Incident details and injuries
Eyewitness accounts and police statements indicate the encounter began when the three men approached the teenagers in the wooded area. One individual was believed to be in possession of an air gun, and pellets fired from that device are thought to have caused the minor but painful injuries to the three young people. The 14-year-old boy who required hospital treatment was also reported to have sustained injuries consistent with a physical assault rather than just pellet impacts. Medical staff treated the wounded teenagers for trauma described as consistent with being struck by air pellets, and no life-threatening injuries have been reported by authorities.
Location and victim details
The location of the incident — woodland behind Graham Bell Close in the Malpas neighbourhood — is a commonly used local green space, and the presence of a small group at that location in the early evening was described to police when the call was made. The victims are three teenagers: a 14-year-old girl, a 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy. The force has not released further identifying information about the victims, and is treating the matter both as an assault and as a weapons-related incident while enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances.
Police response and ongoing investigation
Gwent Police attended the scene after receiving reports and have launched an investigation to identify the men seen in the area and to establish whether a weapon was discharged deliberately at the teenagers. Officers are reviewing any available CCTV, speaking with potential witnesses and conducting searches of the vicinity for physical evidence. The force has reiterated that enquiries are active and that community information can be crucial in building a clear timeline of events and determining whether criminal charges should follow.
How to provide information
Anyone who witnessed the events, who noticed suspicious behaviour near the woodland, or who has dashcam or mobile footage from the area at the time is asked to contact police. The force has asked people to call 101, to visit the official website, or to send a direct message on social media, quoting log reference 2600110151. If you have urgent information that might help locate those responsible, contacting the police promptly could assist officers with time-sensitive lines of inquiry.
What to include in a report
When contacting police, providing specific details such as exact times, descriptions of clothing, direction of travel, vehicle registration numbers, or the presence of weapons will help investigators. Even small observations — the colour of a jacket, a distinctive gait, or a partial vehicle plate — can prove important. The public are encouraged to share anything they remember, no matter how trivial it may seem, because such details can be cross-checked with other evidence.
Community impact and safety advice
The incident has prompted concern among local residents about safety in green spaces after dark. Parents and guardians are naturally worried when young people are injured in locations perceived to be safe. Local policing teams often recommend avoiding isolated areas after dusk and walking in groups where possible. If you see behaviour that seems threatening or someone in distress, calling the police to report the situation remains the recommended course of action so officers can respond and safeguard the community.
As enquiries continue, the community is asked to remain vigilant and to pass any information to authorities. Gwent Police continue to investigate, and anyone with relevant information should contact officers and quote the log reference 2600110151 to help progress the case.
