Five arrested on suspicion of murder

Two 19-year-old men from Cardiff, an 18-year-old man from Cardiff, a 17-year-old boy from Caerphilly and a 17-year-old boy from Cardiff remain in police custody following their arrest on Friday

Gwent Police has launched a murder investigation after the body of a man was discovered in Newport at around 9.05pm on Thursday 10 June.

Officers attended after receiving a report of a serious assault in Balfe Road and found a 26-year-old man from Newport unconscious and unresponsive.

Paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service later confirmed that the man had died. He can now be named as Ryan O’Connor, and his family are receiving support from specialist officers.

Five people – two 19-year-old men from Cardiff, an 18-year-old man from Cardiff, a 17-year-old boy from Caerphilly and a 17-year-old boy from Cardiff - were arrested on suspicion of murder. They all remain in police custody.

Chief superintendent Tom Harding for the east local policing area said:

“I want to reassure our communities in Newport that officers are working tirelessly to establish the circumstances of what happened on Thursday night.

“This may be a concerning time for many residents and additional police officers will be out on patrol, so you will see more officers in Newport as a result and if you have concerns then please do stop and talk with us.

“We appreciate the support of our local communities and for working with us during our investigation.

“I understand that there is a lot of interest about this in our communities, but it is vital that people do not comment on social media about the identities of anyone involved in this matter.

“As this is a live investigation such comments can impact on our ability to bring those responsible to justice.”

Superintendent Martin Price, the senior investigating officer, said:

“As our investigation continues, officers will be making further enquiries so, it is possible that you may see ongoing police activity as part of this work. Please do not be alarmed.

“Anyone who may have information that could assist our investigation and has not yet spoken to the police should call 101 or send us a direct message on Facebook or Twitter, quoting log reference 2100203630.

“We would like to speak to anyone who has dashcam footage from Balfe Road, especially of the roundabout and the surrounding area, between 8.45pm and 9.20pm on Thursday 10 June.

“You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 with any details.”