A van was burnt to a shell next to a popular Cardiff park. The decimated Mercedes was spotted on Monday morning, July 11, in Heath Park's car park, which is right next to the park's playground.
The car park, which has pedestrian access to the Heath Hospital, is used as an extra pay-and-display facility for hospital staff, and provides free parking for two hours for park users. Some residents have speculated whether the van belonged to a hospital worker who was on a night shift, but others say it was a stolen car that was vandalised.
South Wales Police could not confirm if the car was stolen, but said officers had spoken to the owner of the vehicle and no further action is planned. Local resident Robert Newcombe recalled he was disturbed by the incident in the early hours of Monday.
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"Between 5.10am and 5.20am [on Monday], I heard several explosions, and saw black smoke rising not far away. And hour later, I saw this burnt-out Mercedes vehicle - a Vito 7-seater or something like that - on the Heath Park 'parade ground' parking area," he said.
"On hearing the bangs, I was concerned for some Ukrainian refugees I know, as when they first arrived here the sound of helicopters flying to and from UHW [University Hospital of Wales] brought back traumatic recollections."
By the time Mr Newcombe found the vehicle, the fire service had put out the fire and left. The incident comes after "thugs" set fire to the climbing frame in Heath Park's playground in April this year, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.
The frame was blackened during the attack and is still out of use, with fences erected around it. An update on social media by Heath and Birchgrove Labour councillors on Wednesday, July 13, said there have been delays in replacing the damaged structure, but they are hoping a new play structure is put in place that is "better able to be protected from vandalism".
A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said: "South Wales Police was called at 5.14am on Monday morning following a report of a Mercedes van alight on the access road to Heath Park. The fire was quickly extinguished by the fire service. No further action is planned."
The spokeswoman added that officers have spoken to the owner, but could not confirm if the car was stolen. A spokesperson for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: "At approximately 5:11am on Monday the 11 th of July 2022, we received reports of a smoke in the Heath area of Cardiff.
"A crew from Whitchurch Fire and Rescue Station attended the scene and upon arrival discovered a vehicle on fire. Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire and a stop message was received at approximately 5:49am."
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