Nottingham police say two 19-year-olds and a man in his 50s were killed in the city on Tuesday morning
The University of Nottingham has confirmed that two of its students are among the dead
One of the students has been named locally as Barnaby Webber, but police have not officially named any of the victims
A 31-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder remains in police custody - the motive behind the incident remains unclear
Chief Constable Kate Meynell has told reporters that police believe the suspect stole a van from a victim and drove it at members of the public
The students were stabbed to death in Ilkeston Road at about 04:00 BST, while the man's body was found in Magdala Road
Police were also called to another street, where a van attempted to run over three people
One man is in a critical condition in hospital while two others suffered minor injuries following that incident
In the last hour, a large contingent of armed police have conducted a raid at a property in the Ilkeston Road area of Nottingham.
It's worth bearing in mind, as speculation builds on social media about the cause of the attack, that police have not yet confirmed if there was a terrorist motivation for them.
Nottingham attacks: Armed police raid property in city
As more information comes in about the attack, we've been sifting through it to try and piece together what happened this morning.
We now know the van was found and an arrest made on Bentinck Road about a mile to the north west of Milton Street, where three people were injured after being struck.
Here's a map of the key locations of the attack, to give you a sense of where the main areas of investigation are taking place.
Image source, .
Daniel Sandford
Home Affairs Correspondent, reporting from the scene
Clearly, because of the method used in these alleged murders, including possible stabbing and the use of a vehicle, it means whether there is a link to terrorism is a very important question.
You can see there's dents on the front of the van and damage to the window. It does look like it may have run into people.
The question that's got to be dealt with if it's terrorism related, is what was the alleged motivation?
That's something that's still being considered by people in charge of counter-terrorism in the UK, who must make the decision if it is.
I think the problem in this case is there are some issues around the suspect, who may also perhaps have some mental health issues.
So there's going to be quite a difficult decision to make over whether or not there was some kind of political or religious motivation, or whether it is mental health or other issues.
Right Reverend Paul Williams has been the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham for eight years - he says his “heart, thoughts and prayers” go out to all directly involved in the incident.
Speaking to Radio 5 Live’s Naga Munchetty, he says the city has “really strong” community relations, including people from “different backgrounds, cultures and parts of the city”.
He says churches and other faith communities will be open for anybody of any or no faith to “come together” and receive support.
“Starting now, we can pull together like we always do in Nottingham and we can support people, whatever their background, whatever their faith,” he adds.
There's still a lot that is not fully explained about what happened today in Nottingham, but here's what we do know:
You can read more about the information we have gathered so far here.
As police gather evidence, a number of roads are still closed to the public.
The white Vauxhall, behind the cordon on Bentinck Road in Nottingham, has clear damage.
There are two dents on the bonnet, just above the radiator grille, and two sets of corresponding cracks radiating out from two points on the windscreen.
Image source, PA MediaA rucksack has also been pictured at the side of the van.
Police said earlier that one of the three incidents they're investigating involved a van attempting to run over three people, who are being treated for their injuries. It's not yet known if this is the same van.
Residents gathered at the cordon said they were disturbed by shouting just before 05:30.
Image source, PA Media
Image source, PA MediaThe police cordon on Bentinck Road
Just before 13:00, BBC correspondent Navtej Johal saw a number of armed police raid a property on Ilkeston Road, where a police cordon is now in place.
Officers knocked the door down and police are outside the property
Image source, bbcEyewitness Carl Cassidy said he was dropping his wife off for work this morning when he saw the aftermath of the van crash.
“At 5.28am we got to the clock tower and saw a person lying on the floor… some people were gathered round - I thought it was a drug user or something.
“Then we pulled up outside the Theatre Royal at the junction of Market Street and Upper Parliament street and as my wife opened the car door we heard an almighty bang.
“A white van was heading for my car but it swerved and missed us by inches, mounting the pavement.
“I got out of the car and saw two people lying on the ground. The lady seemed okay - she was shaken but sitting up and okay; the man who was hit harder seemed a bit worse.
“He was on the other side of the road and people were helping to put him in the recovery position.
“Police were following the vehicle but stopped to tend to the injured.
“The van drove off and within seconds three more police cars arrived at the scene at which point I left and drove home.”
Nottingham resident John says the morning has been “very surreal”.
Speaking to Radio 5 Live’s Naga Munchetty, he says just hours before the attack he and his step daughter were at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal, which is now at the edge of a police cordon.
“For me it was just so incredibly close to home, both literally and metaphorically,” he says.
“When a friend or family member calls you about something that’s happened in your city, you hope to be able to answer, ‘it’s horrible, but it’s nowhere near me.’”
“Nottingham’s quote a compact city and the fact it’s spread over two or three different areas of the city centre… there won’t be many people in Nottingham today that are able to say it’s not near them.”
Another cordon has now been put up on Ilkeston Road, near the corner of Albert Grove, and there are reports of armed police leaving the scene.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the latest public figure to speak out about the situation in Nottingham - calling it "terrible" and "tragic".
"I join with everyone praying for all those affected, for grieving families and friends," Justin Welby said in a tweet.
He added that his thoughts were also with the emergency services "in their ongoing response".
Image source, PA Media
Ben Bradley, Conservative MP for Mansfield and leader of Nottinghamshire County Council says the community will “rally round” after the “tragic incident”.
Speaking to Radio 5 Live’s Naga Munchetty, he says his “heart goes out” to all the people affected and the wider community who “are going to be shaken and concerned”.
“We’ve seen incidents in all the major cities around the country in the past and it’s not something we could or should ever get used to,” he adds.
“It’s going to be a difficult few days I think.”
Emma lives just outside Nottingham city centre and tells Radio 5 Live’s Naga Munchetty there is a “fear” in the area.
“Nottingham is a big city, but it’s a small community and when something like this happens you are rocked,” she says.
She is now wondering how to explain the news to her seven-year-old son who “is not immune to things that are going on”.
“We’re trying so hard as parents or carers to give our kids a bubble of safety, and then things like this happen,” she says.
“How do you explain that [to a child] – I can’t comprehend it and I’m in my 40s.”
“I don’t want to be scared walking in Nottingham city centre… but when things like this happen, you can’t help but think, ‘is something going to happen?’”
We're hearing from Downing Street now, where Rishi Sunak's official spokesman says the prime minister was informed about these incidents "early this morning".
"This is a live police investigation," he tells reporters, repeating some of the details we already know: "A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder."
The spokesman adds that he's "limited in what [he] can say", but assures the media that both Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman are "closely monitoring the latest developments".
Caroline Lowbridge
BBC News
Police said someone in a van attempted to run over three people in Milton Street, which is next to the Victoria Centre.
Nigel Wheatley, director of the shopping centre, said: “We are deeply saddened to learn the news of the tragic events that occurred in Nottingham city centre this morning.
“Alongside the rest of the community, the thoughts of the whole team at Victoria Centre go out to the family and friends of the victims and everyone who has been affected by these awful events.
“Our gratitude goes towards the emergency service teams who are continuing to respond to the incident.”
Image source, SuppliedSome images of a white Vauxhall Vivaro van are coming through now. It's parked on Bentinck Road, the PA news agency reports, which our BBC Verify colleagues have confirmed is where an arrest took place.
The area around the van is cordoned off and police have been photographed guarding the perimeter, near a convenience store on the corner of Bentinck Road and Marples Street.
Police said earlier that one of the three incidents they're investigating involved a van attempting to run over three people, who are being treated for their injuries. It's not yet known if this is the same van.
Image source, Reuters
Alex Thorp
BBC News
The leader of Nottingham City Council, councillor David Mellen, has said he is "shocked and saddened by these horrific deaths".
"My thoughts and prayers are with those who knew and loved the three people who have died and those who have been injured, and to the communities where they lived," he wrote in a statement.
"Ours is an overwhelmingly peaceful and tolerant city where people get along with one another and it’s incomprehensible that such dreadful violence has happened here."
He added: "I’m grateful to the police for swiftly making an arrest and for all the emergency services responding to this tragic situation and keeping us safe."
These images show the scene earlier on Magdala Road, where one man was found dead.
Image source, PA
Image source, PA
Image source, PA