Nottingham attacks: What we know

Pictures of a white Vauxhall Vivaro van with a dent in its front have emerged

Three people died and another three were injured following a series of attacks in Nottingham early on Tuesday morning.

A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.

Here is what we know.

What happened?

Two students, both aged 19, were found stabbed to death in Ilkeston Road, west of Nottingham's city centre, just after 04:00 BST.

Police believe the suspect, who has still not been named, then made his way by foot to a hostel in Mapperley Road but was denied entry - police said this was not reported to them at the time.

Nottingham Police said the suspect then continued on foot to Magdala Road where he killed a 65-year-old man and stole his van. This incident took place just under two miles (3.2km) away from the scene of the first two killings.

The BBC has seen CCTV footage that shows a man, thought to be the suspect, outside a hostel in Nottingham

The suspect then attempted to run over a man in the Milton Street area - he was left in a critical condition, but a Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust spokesman said he was now stable.

He then attempted to run over two other pedestrians in the Sherwood Street area, who are believed to have suffered minor injuries.

In a statement released on Thursday afternoon, police said they had reported this part of the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IPOC), because a marked police car followed behind the suspect's van for a short distance before it hit the two pedestrians.

Police said they then stopped the van in Maples Street where a 31-year-old man was Tasered and arrested at about 05:30 BST.

What do we know about the victims?

The two 19-year-olds killed in Ilkeston Road were students at the University of Nottingham who had just finished their exams at the end of their first year.

They have been formally identified as Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar.

Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar have been identified as the two students killed in the attack

Mr Webber, from Taunton in Somerset, was studying history at Nottingham and was a talented amateur cricketer.

His parents, David and Emma Webber, and younger brother Charlie, said he was "a beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to."

Speaking to thousands of students gathered at a vigil at the university on Wednesday, his father said: "I'm lost for words, I've lost my baby boy."

"I know Barney would be super touched by everyone here," he said.

Speaking at another vigil on Thursday, Mrs Webber said her son dreamed of one day becoming a pilot.

"I'm not sure how a history degree from Nottingham was part of the plan - but perhaps he wanted to fly Spitfires," she joked.

She said the "monstrous individual" who killed him "will not define us" and that he "will receive the retribution" he deserves.

But she also called on people to "hold no hate that relates to any colour, sex or religion".

In a statement, Taunton School, where he attended from nursery through to sixth form, said: "In his long association with the school, he touched the lives of many staff, pupils and parents and his loss will be very difficult to come to terms with."

• Watch: Heartbroken fathers address vigil

• Who were the people killed in Nottingham?

Ms O'Malley-Kumar was a medical student who had undertaken work placements in a GP surgery and volunteered for the nationwide vaccination programme in the Covid pandemic.

She was also said to have been a talented hockey player, having been a member of England Hockey's under-16 and under-18 squads.

Her parents and brother James said she was "truly a wonderful and beautiful young lady. As parents, words cannot explain our complete and utter devastation. She will be so dearly missed."

Speaking at Wednesday's vigil, her father Sanjoy Kumar said Grace loved being at the university and was full of stories of her time there.

At the vigil on Thursday her mother described her as "treasured and adored" child who wanted to be a doctor.

She said the accused "must face justice", but called on people to "be kind to each other - don't have hate in your hearts".

She added: "The magnitude of the grief reflects the magnitude of the love we had for her."

Bancroft's Independent School, which she left at the end of the last academic year, described her as an "immensely gifted and dedicated scholar and sportswoman".

The 65-year-old man who was found dead in Magdala Road has been formally identified as Ian Coates, a caretaker who worked at Huntingdon Academy, part of the LEAD Academy Trust.

Ian Coates has been named as the third victim

"Ian was a much-loved colleague who always went the extra mile for the benefit of our children and will be greatly missed," the trust said in a statement.

At Thursday's vigil in central Nottingham, Ross Middleton, headteacher at Huntington Academy, spoke of a man who "always put the children first".

He said Mr Coates was well-loved in the school, putting on "show-stopping Christmas displays", and had also helped children with sewing projects, and created castles for reading corners.

"He was full of fun, with a mischievous glint in his eye," Mr Middleton said, describing Mr Coates's "caring nature", and speaking of the "love and pride" he had for his grandson.

Mr Coates's sons, Lee and James Coates, said the avid Nottingham Forest fan had been due to retire in four months' time and his death had "rocked everyone's world".

What do we know about the suspect?

The 31-year-old suspect in custody is originally from West Africa but had been in the UK for many years, official sources have confirmed.

He is not a British citizen but he had settled status, meaning he had permission to stay in the country permanently.

He did not have a criminal record and was not known to the security services.

Police said the suspect is a former University of Nottingham student, but they do not believe this to be connected with the attack.

It is also understood that the man has a history of mental health issues.

What's the police response been?

Police said on Thursday that they had been given another 36 hours to question the suspect. They have said they are keeping an "open mind" and working alongside counter-terrorism police, as would normally be the case for an incident like this.

A statement released on Thursday said: "A team of dedicated detectives is continuing to question the suspect and building up a strong picture of what happened that morning.

"This has included CCTV gathering, forensics, eye-witness accounts and searching a number of properties in the city."

They said the families of all victims were being supported by specially trained officers.

The police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the attacks.

Officers searched a number of addresses across the city throughout Tuesday.

Damage to a van is photographed by officers

Around lunchtime on Tuesday, armed officers raided a property in Ilkeston Road, the street where Mr Webber and Ms O'Malley-Kumar were earlier found dead.

Forensic officers were also looking at a dented white Vauxhall van in Bentinck Road near the scene of the arrest.

A dedicated police phone line has been set up and anyone concerned about family or friends can call 0800 096 1011.

What has the university said?

The University of Nottingham's Vice-Chancellor Shearer West characterised events as a "senseless loss of two first-year students who have had their bright futures brutally curtailed by a seemingly random act of violence".

"The university is supporting Grace and Barnaby's families at this immensely difficult time," she added.

At Thursday's vigil, Ms West said the university was "trying to process" the information that the suspect was a former student.

Thousands also gathered for an outdoor vigil on campus at Djanogly Terrace on Wednesday evening.

The University of Nottingham's student union community officer Daisy Forster told those gathered that "shock waves echo throughout our student community" after the deaths.

"We will always be here when you need us," she told the families of Grace and Barnaby, and pointed to thousands of students behind them.

The university has also asked those who need support now or in the coming days to contact wellbeing services.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line.

Correction 25 October 2024: This article was edited to reflect that settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme enables EU citizens to live in the UK permanently.