Gwent Police has clarified that armed officers were not called to the Piccadilly Inn, in Caerphilly, in a recent incident.
The force’s press office led Caerphilly Observer to believe, and subsequently report, that armed officers were called to the pub at around 5.40pm on Wednesday, August 2.
This was incorrect and Caerphilly Observer would like to apologise to the owners of the Piccadilly Inn for the distress caused.
A Gwent Police spokeswoman said: “We received a call at about 5.40pm on Wednesday, August 2, from a member of the public concerned that they’d seen individuals in a car with a firearm driving on Pontygwindy road.
“Armed officers were deployed to the area to search for the vehicle.
“The car was subsequently located the following day on Thursday, August 3, at around midday in the Cardiff area and a 20-year-old man was arrested.
“Officers subsequently arrested and charged two other men.
“No searches took place in or outside the Piccadilly Inn pub – the location did not form part of the investigation.”
Abid Hassan, 20, of Caerau Road, Cardiff, Caine Harris, 21, of Llanedeyrn, Cardiff, and Macauley Moody, 20, of Llanrumney, Cardiff, were all remanded in custody on Monday, August 7, when they appeared at Newport Magistrates’ Court.
All were charged with affray, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possession of a knife/blade in a public place and threats to kill.
The three will next appear at Newport Crown Court on Monday, September 4.
Two other people, a man aged 46 and a woman aged 54, were also arrested and have both been released from police custody under investigation.