Pensioner fatally stabbed in shop

Church Street was sealed off by police investigating the stabbing

A 75-year-old woman has died after being stabbed at a shop in the centre of Cardiff.

An ambulance crew was called to the Poundstretcher store in Church Street at 1230 BST on Wednesday. The street was busy with shoppers and office workers at the time.

South Wales Police confirmed that the woman, who has not been named, was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

A 44-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the incident.

The area around the shop remains sealed off by police and Church Street has been closed to the public.

I sat her down on a chair and she was gripping me tightly. I told her the ambulance was on its way. Market attendant Maria Davies

Maria Davies, attendant at Cardiff indoor market, was one of the first people at the scene and helped the fatally injured woman.

She told the BBC Wales news website: "I was passing the side entrance of the market and I heard a lot of raised voices in Poundstretcher.

"I went into the shop. I saw these two old ladies coming towards me.

"One said, 'can you help me, someone has just been stabbed in the back'. I looked at the other lady and I saw the knife in her back.

'Crying and shaking'

"I sat her down on a chair and she was gripping me tightly. I told her the ambulance was on its way.

"I tried to calm her down. She was crying and shaking. She was still fully conscious because she was talking to me."

The stabbing took place at the Poundstretcher store

Ms Davies said she stayed with the woman until the emergency services arrived and she was taken away by paramedics.

South Wales Police said a 44-year-old woman arrested at the scene was being detained in Cardiff Central police station.

Detective Superintendent Paul Kemp, who is leading the investigation, said: "We are treating this as murder, and are appealing for anyone with any information to contact our incident room which has been set up at Fairwater Police Station, on 02920 571 530.

"In particular, we would like to speak with anyone who was in, or in the vicinity of the Poundstretcher store between midday and 12.30pm."

A mobile police unit has also been set up outside St John's Church, close to the scene.

A post mortem examination is due to be carried out on Wednesday evening.