Nottingham: Students among three killed in knife and van attacks

The metropolis of Nottingham has been shaken by a collection of attacks which left two teenage college students and one other man lifeless.

Barnaby Webber, 19, Grace Kumar, 19, and a person in his 50s have been fatally stabbed. Three individuals have been hit by a van police imagine was stolen from the older stabbing sufferer.

A suspect was Tasered by police earlier than being arrested on suspicion of homicide.

Counter-terrorism police are concerned in the investigation, however no link to extremism has been confirmed.

Police stated they have been nonetheless in the early levels of the inquiry into the attacks, which occurred throughout the early hours of Tuesday, and had but to find out an actual motive.

The suspect, 31, is believed to be a migrant of West African origin.

Reporting from the scene, the BBC’s Daniel Sandford says he understands the suspect has a historical past of psychological well being points.

That is why at this stage, whereas counter-terrorism police are aiding the investigation, they aren’t operating it, he provides.

Several roads in Nottingham have been closed all through the day as police combed for proof, and armed officers have been seen on the town’s streets.

Nottingham’s three MPs stated the realm had been “devastated” by the bloodshed.

Police haven’t formally recognized the victims, however Mr Webber, a scholar at Nottingham University, was named by associates and household.

The novice cricketer from Taunton was described by Somerset’s Bishops Hull Cricket Club as a pricey buddy whose reminiscence would dwell on.

A tribute continued: “‘Webbs’ joined the club back in 2021 and has since then been a key part of our club and made such an impact in such a short space of time.”

Police haven’t formally recognized Grace Kumar – who’s often known as Grace O’Malley-Kumar. The man in his 50s has additionally not been named by the authorities.

The lethal episode unfolded in lower than two hours.

Police have been referred to as out to Ilkeston Road round 04:00 BST the place they discovered the 2 college students fatally injured.

Some time after 05:00 the physique of the person whose van was apparently stolen was discovered with knife wounds in Magdala Road, just below two miles (3.2 km) from the scene of the primary two killings.

Around 05:30 the van was pushed into three individuals ready at a bus cease on Milton Street in the town centre. One of these hit stays in hospital combating for his or her life. The different two have been fortunate to flee with minor accidents.

Shortly after the van assault the automobile was stopped in close by Maples Street and the suspect was detained after being Tasered.

In the afternoon armed officers carried out a raid on a property on Ilkeston Road.

Nottinghamshire Police, which described the incident as “horrific and tragic”, stated detectives weren’t in search of anybody else in reference to the inquiry.

One eyewitness instructed the BBC he had seen a younger man and younger lady being stabbed in Ilkeston Road, near the junction with Bright Street.

The man, who requested to stay nameless, stated he had heard “awful, blood-curdling screams” and had seen a person dressed in black, with a hood and rucksack, “grappling with some people”.

“It was a girl, and a man or boy she was with – they looked quite young,” he stated.

“She was screaming ‘Help!’. I simply want I’d shouted one thing out of the window to unnerve the assailant.

“I noticed him stab the lad first and then the lady. It was repeated stabbing – 4 or 5 occasions. The lad collapsed in the center of the highway.

“The girl stumbled towards a house and didn’t move. The next minute she had disappeared down the side of a house, and that’s where they found her.”

The assault has despatched shockwaves via Nottingham’s giant scholar inhabitants, a metropolis which is house to 2 universities and greater than 50,000 college students.

A male scholar, who knew one of many victims, stated: “It hurts, it hurts loads. It’s the primary time I’m coping with one thing like this and at college it is a problem for positive.

“The highway that I dwell on leads immediately on to the scene of the incident – when it occurs in your doorstep you’re feeling scared and frightened.

“It makes you realise what’s important in life, to check on people and see how they’re doing.”

The University of Nottingham confirmed “with great sadness” that the 2 teenage victims of the assault had been college students there.

A deliberate commencement occasion was cancelled on Tuesday, and its college students’ union stated it was “devastated and shocked” by the attacks.

Neighbouring Nottingham Trent University stated it had contacted its college students to reassure them and encourage them to talk to workers about security considerations.

Ahead of a church vigil held in the town on Tuesday night, Paul Williams – the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham – stated the town was “in shock”.

“But what people in Nottingham do is pull together, friendship is the heart of Nottingham,” he stated.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated: “My thoughts are with those injured, and the family and loved ones of those who have lost their lives.”

Home Secretary Suella Braverman stated her ideas have been first and foremost with “all of those who’ve been involved, their friends, their families and their communities”.

She urged anybody with any info regarding the incident to report it to the police, who she says ought to be allowed “time and space” to research.

Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer despatched his “thoughts to all those affected and to the emergency services who are responding”.

Additional reporting by Sean Seddon