Everything we know so far about Nottingham attacks after van horror killed three
Police are keeping an open mind over the motive for a knife and van attack in Nottingham that left three people dead.
A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a deadly rampage in the city early this morning and detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with the violence.
Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Kate Meynell said the force is working with counter-terrorism investigators to establish what happened.
Two students, Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar, were stabbed to death at about 4am while the body of another victim was found on the nearby Magdala Road.
Three people were hurt, one critically, when a suspect driving a thought to be stolen van tried to run them over near the Theatre Royal.
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Major roads in the city centre are set to remain closed as the police investigation continues.
As police work to establish exactly what has happened, here is everything we know so far.
For live updates please click here.
Two students killed in knife attack on way home from night out
The attacks took place across Nottingham city centre early this morning (Press Association Images)Nottingham University has confirmed that two of the three people killed in the attacks were students at the university.
It said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that we confirm the sudden and unexpected death of two of our students following a major incident in Nottingham city centre overnight.
"We are shocked and devastated by the news and our thoughts are with those affected, their families and friends. We know this is likely to cause distress for staff and students in our community.
Grace Kumar"Support is available through our support and wellbeing services for any of our community who may need it."
The students were later named as Grace Kumar and Barnaby Webber, both 19.
The man and woman were both first years and lived in the same halls of residence, a friend said.
Barnaby WebberThey were stabbed to death just minutes from the halls in Lenton, Nottingham.
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A friend of the male victim told the Mirror: “He was a friend of mine. He was just walking home from a club like we all do. They just got unlucky.
“They were just five minutes from home and both got stabbed by some random guy.”
Couple 'saw man in his 60s lying on side of road covered in blood'
Forensic police officers on Ilkeston Road, where two students were stabbed to death (Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)A couple told how they stopped their car when they saw a man’s body on the side of the road with blood “trailing down” the street.
Amazon delivery driver Miklos Toldi, 47, told the Mirror: “I saw him lying there on his side covered in blood. We stopped the car, it was around 5.45am."
She added: “There was blood trailing down the street. His mouth was open, there was no movement on the chest."
Miklos, who moved from Hungary to the UK more than 17 years ago, said another driver also stopped to help and the police were called.
Armed police on Ilkeston Road, Nottingham (Joseph Walshe / SWNS)Officers, Miklos said, arrived on the scene outside Magdala Tennis Club in Nottingham “very fast” in just a few minutes and started CPR.
“When they arrived, they turned him onto his back and cleared away the blood. When they turned him over I think I saw two or three cuts around the stomach. His knuckle was covered in blood as well.
"He was about 65 with greying hair and wearing clean black working trousers and trainers. He looked like he was a construction worker.”
Police said that a body of a third victim, a man, was found in Magdala Road and said he was in his 50s.
Man in critical condition after van attempted to run over three people shortly afterwards
Three people were hurt, one critically, when a suspect driving a van tried to run them over near the Theatre Royal.
Witness Lynn Haggitt told how she saw a van hitting two people in Nottingham.
She described how a white van pulled up beside her at 5.30am on her way to work, telling the BBC: "He looked in his mirror, saw a police car behind him, he then quickened up, there were two people, two in the corner, he went straight into these two people.
Cracks seen on the white van's windscreen (PA)"The woman went on the kerb, the man went up in the air, there was such a bang, I wish I never saw it, it's really shaken me up.
"I went over, perhaps I shouldn't have gone over but I wanted to see if I could help.
"He (the van driver) backed up after he hit... and drove up Parliament Street.
"The woman was sitting up on the kerb, she looked OK. The man was laying down, but then he got up, sat on the side waiting for an ambulance," Ms Haggitt said.
She added: "I can't believe he was able to get up after the head wound."
Man 'who has mental health history' arrested on suspicion of murder
Police arrested a 31-year-old man on suspicion of murderA 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder in relation to the attacks.
It is understood that he has a mental health history.
Unverified footage showed a man being detained outside a convenience store in Bentinck Road at around 5.30am on Tuesday.
Student Demi Ojolow, who lives in the road, said: "I just saw the police shouting at him to get out of the car and get on the floor.
"And they dragged him out of the car and he just fell on the floor. He was still pretty wrestling at the point.
"They dragged him away and that was about it."
Counter-terror police raid home on road where students found dead
Armed police prepare to raid an address on Ilkeston Road in NottinghamCounter-terrorism police were seen using a battering ram to raid a property on Ilkeston Road this afternoon.
A white Toyota was also cordoned off on Arundel Street, which is adjacent to Ilkeston Road.
Footage taken by a Mirror reporter showed police cordoning off the area as they carried out the raid.
One officer was carrying a large notepad with the words "major incident" on the front.
The property in question has a "sold" estate agent sign outside.
Police officers outside an address on Ilkeston Road (PA)Reporters were able to see the terraced house after the latest temporary cordon was lifted.
Mohammed Qasim and Nisar Ahmed, who work at Xclusive Hair Studio next door to the property, said it had been raided last year.
Mr Qasim said they were in the shop when the property was raided.
He said: "The for sale sign has been up for about two-three months. We haven't seen anyone since."
Police 'keeping an open mind' over motive
An armed police officer on Ilkeston Road in Nottingham (PA)Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Kate Meynell said the force is working with counter-terrorism investigators to establish what happened.
Major roads in the city centre are set to remain closed as the police investigation continues.
Ms Meynell said: "This is a tragic series of events which has led to the lives of three innocent people being taken and left another member of the public in a critical condition in hospital.
"My thoughts are with all the families affected by this shocking incident and we will be working extremely hard to understand exactly what has happened.
"We are at the early stages of the investigation and need to determine the motives behind these attacks, and will keep the public updated as soon as we are able to say more.
"We are keeping an open mind as we investigate the circumstances surrounding these incidents and are working alongside Counter Terrorism Policing to establish the facts - as we would normally do in these types of circumstances.
"We do have a man in custody who has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Currently, we do not believe there is anyone else involved in this incident.
"It is safe to go into the city centre but there are a number of streets that will remain closed including Ilkeston Road, Magdala Street, Milton Street and Maple Street. This is so officers can gather evidence in order to understand what has happened."
Vigil planned as city left reeling in shock from fatal attacks
Police officers in Nottingham city centre (PA)Nottingham City Council leader David Mellen said a vigil has been planned following the attacks.
He told BBC Radio Nottingham: "I believe there's going to be a vigil outside St Peter's Church in the square organised by the diocese at 5pm for people to come together to just take in the enormity of what has happened to stand together.
"Nottingham is a city where people get on well together, where people live in harmony, people work together.
"To have this shocking incident break into the harmony is truly awful and whatever the motives we would want to stand against them."
Rishi Sunak earlier paid tribute to the three victims, writing on Twitter: "I want to thank the police and emergency services for their ongoing response to the shocking incident in Nottingham this morning.
"I am being kept updated on developments. The police must be given the time to undertake their work. My thoughts are with those injured, and the family and loved ones of those who have lost their lives."
Nottingham's three Labour MPs, Nadia Whittome, Lilian Greenwood and Alex Norris, said they were "shaken" by the events.
Nottingham Forest Football Club also reacted to Tuesday's attacks, saying on Twitter: "We are devastated to learn the news of the horrific events that took place in Nottingham this morning.
"The thoughts of everyone at NFFC are with the friends and families of those who have tragically lost their lives and to everyone affected by this incident."
Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Kate Meynell, speaking outside a police station in the city (BBC)Police hold press conference this afternoon
Nottinghamshire Police held a press conference to update the country on the shocking attack this afternoon.
Shortly after 5.30pm, Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Kate Meynell, speaking outside a police station in the city, said: "Police were called to Ilkeston Road just after 4am after a member of the public reported that two people aged 19 had been stabbed and were unresponsive.
"We had a further call to another incident in Milton Street, where the driver of a stolen van had attempted to run over three people. As a result, one man is in hospital in a critical condition while two others are believed to have suffered minor injuries.
"The van was then stopped on Maple Street, where a man was tasered and detained by police officers on suspicion of murder. A man in his 50s was also found dead from knife injuries in Magdala Road by a member of the public.
"At the moment, we believe that the suspect has stolen this man's vehicle and driven it to Milton Street, where he is then driven at members of the public.
"We are still in the early stages of the investigation. I need to determine exactly what the motives were behind this attack."
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