Nottingham attack: Tributes pour in for students and school caretaker stabbed to death

Police arrest a 31-year-old man on suspicion of murder

From left, victims Ian Coates, Grace O-Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber. Photos: PA and @benonwine / Twitter

Tributes have flooded in for two talented first-year students and a school caretaker after they were stabbed to death during a deadly rampage in Nottingham.

Thousands of people attended a vigil, held in the grounds of the University of Nottingham, where relatives of the victims grieved and addressed tearful students.

Police were working on Wednesday to piece together details of the knife and van attack 1that killed two 19-year-old students and another man in the city of Nottingham.

Nottinghamshire Police said they had used a Taser and arrested a 31-year-old man on suspicion of murder after Mr Webber and fellow University of Nottingham student Grace O'Malley-Kumar were stabbed to death in Ilkeston Road at about 4am on Tuesday.

Medical student Grace O’Malley-Kumar and history student Barnaby Webber, who were both studying at the University of Nottingham (UoN), were found fatally knifed in the street by police at 4.04am on Tuesday.

The third victim, Ian Coates, 65, who worked as a site manager for the LEAD Academy Trust, was described as “a much-loved colleague who always went the extra mile for the benefit of our children”.

The Webber family had earlier paid tribute to the “beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to”.

David and Emma Webber, and younger brother Charlie, said the student, who attended the University of Nottingham, was “at the start of his journey into adulthood and was developing into a wonderful young man”.

Mr Coates was also found fatally knifed before the suspect is believed to have stolen his van, driving at pedestrians in Milton Street.

His son, Lee, said on Twitter that he is “broken”, while his brother Phil said: “I can’t sleep, trying to understand what’s happened.”

He was described by Huntingdon Academy and Warren Academy's executive head teacher as “a much-loved colleague who always went the extra mile for the benefit of our children”.

Another person was left critically wounded in the attack.

The suspect, reportedly of West African origin, has lived in the UK since his teens and has a history of mental health issues.

Police believe the attacker acted alone and they are working with counter-terrorism officers to try to establish a motive.

The attack has not been labelled as terrorism by the authorities, and police are investigating issues including the suspect's mental health.

Mr Webber's family, from Taunton in Somerset, said: “Complete devastation is not enough to describe our pain and loss at the senseless murder of our son.

“Barnaby Philip John Webber was a beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to.

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Family photo of Barnaby Webber, second left, with his father David, mother Emma and brother Charlie. PA

“A talented and passionate cricketer, who was over the moon to have made selection to his university cricket team.

“At 19, he was just at the start of his journey into adulthood and was developing into a wonderful young man.

“As parents, we are enormously proud of everything he achieved and all the plans he had made.

“His brother is bereft beyond belief, and at this time we ask for privacy as a family to be allowed time to process and grieve.”

The family added they would not be making further statements, particularly in relation to the police investigation.

“Thank you for your understanding, and to everyone who has supported us in this awful journey so far.”

Grace O'Malley-Kumar. PA

In a statement issued by Nottinghamshire Police, the family of Ms O'Malley-Kumar said: “Grace was an adored daughter and sister; she was a truly wonderful and beautiful young lady.

“Grace was not just a sister to James but his best friend. He is completely heart-broken. As parents, words cannot explain our complete and utter devastation. She will be so dearly missed.

“We were so incredibly proud of Grace's achievements and what a truly lovely person she was. She was resilient and wise beyond her years. Grace was so happy in life fulfilling her ambition of studying to become a doctor whilst playing top-flight hockey at university.”

England Hockey said they were “deeply saddened” at the news of the death of Ms O'Malley-Kumar, who had played for England's Under-18 team.

“Grace was a popular member of the England U16 and U18 squads and our thoughts are with Grace's family, friends, teammates and the whole hockey community at this time,” England Hockey said.

Bancroft's School in north-east London, where Ms O'Malley-Kumar was a student until last year, said in a statement on its website: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death in Nottingham under tragic circumstances of one of our recent leavers from 2022, Grace O'Malley-Kumar.

“We are desperately shocked and saddened by Grace's sudden death in these truly terrible circumstances. She left Bancroft's only last year and was a hugely important part of our community.

Mr Webber was a keen cricket player. In a statement released on Tuesday, Bishops Hull Cricket Club in Taunton said Mr Webber, who was one of its members, was a “dear friend” and “key part” of the club.

Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan also paid tribute to Mr Webber, describing him as a “young cricketer gone far too soon”.

Nottingham city centre shut after 'major incident' – in pictures

Flowers on the steps of Nottingham Council House after three people were killed and another three hurt in connected attacks on Tuesday morning. PA

Ian Coates, Grace O'Malley Kumar and Barnaby Webber, were killed in the attack in Nottingham. PA and @benonwine / twitter

Grace O'Malley Kumar and Barnaby Webber's fathers speak during a vigil at the University of Nottingham. PA

Team mates of Grace O'Malley Kumar lay flowers at the university. PA

The family of Barnaby Webber attend a vigil at the university. PA

A vigil at St Peter's church in Nottingham. PA

Forensic police search an area in the city centre. Getty

People attend a vigil at St Peter’s Church. Getty

A forensic officer holds an iPhone in an evidence bag. EPA

Police officers on patrol in Nottingham city centre, after three people were found dead. PA

A man has been arrested after three people were killed in the central English city, in what police called a 'horrific and tragic incident'. PA

A white van behind a police cordon on the corner of Maples Street and Bentinck Road in Nottingham. PA

A bag lies beside the white van. PA

A police forensics officer at the scene on the city's Magdala Road. PA

Officers remove a person who had entered the police cordon on Milton Street. PA

Police forensics officers on Ilkeston Road. PA

Three people were also taken to hospital after being run over by a van, in what police believe was a connected incident. PA

The city centre was put into lockdown early on Tuesday, with several streets cordoned off and the tram network suspended. PA

Officers at the scene. PA

Police officers at the Maid Marian Way junction of Upper Parliament Street in Nottingham. PA

A sign placed by police officers at the Maid Marian Way junction of Upper Parliament Street. PA

On Wednesday, police said they were questioning a man on suspicion of murder.

“We are still in the early stages of the investigation and need to determine the motives behind these attacks,” said Chief Constable Kate Meynell of Nottinghamshire Police.

The incident has shocked the city, particularly the student community, with Nottingham home to two universities with more than 50,000 students.

The students were attacked as they returned home from a post-exam party, according to The Times.

In a short statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, Chief Meynell said the force believed the attacker then stole the older man's van before driving it at pedestrians in Milton Street.

The vehicle was stopped by officers in Maple Street before the suspect was tasered and detained, Chief Meynell said.

A vigil at Nottingham's St Peter's Church in the city centre was attended by hundreds of people paying their respects to those who died and the injured.

During the service, attended mainly by students from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, those present were invited to place flowers below the altar or light a candle.

Throughout the day on Tuesday, witnesses gave harrowing accounts of the attacks, with one telling the BBC he heard “awful, blood-curdling screams” and saw a “black guy dressed all in black with a hood and rucksack grappling with some people”.

Chief Meynell confirmed that officers had carried out searches at properties around the city, with cordons erected on various sections of Ilkeston Road.

The cordon was lifted on Wednesday, with two officers still standing outside a terraced property that appeared to be the subject of police searches on Tuesday afternoon. Staff at a neighbouring hairdresser said it had been raided last year.

Police are examining CCTV from a residential care home, which appears to show a man dressed in black attempting to gain access to a bay window.

Alex Pridmore, a trustee of the All Saints Shelter charity, which runs the home, said the footage showed someone trying to gain access through a ground-floor window at about 4am on Tuesday.

Mr Pridmore said: “None of our residents were hurt.

“A resident had woken up and shut the window and was able to prevent the man coming in.

“The CCTV has been provided to the police. The resident alerted security, we have 24/7 security on the door.”

A resident at the home, who did not wish to be named, said he “punched” the glass of his bay window to frighten off the man.

Speaking at the start of Prime Minister's Questions, Rishi Sunak said: “I know the whole House will want to thank the emergency services for their ongoing response to the shocking incident in Nottingham yesterday.

“Our thoughts are with those injured and with the families of those who lost their lives.”

NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard paid tribute to first responders during the Nottingham attacks.

Speaking at the NHS ConfedExpo conference in the city, she said: “I would also like to say a special thank you to the ambulance crews and other NHS and emergency service staff who responded to the appalling tragedy in Nottingham yesterday.

“Our thoughts and sympathies are with those injured and killed, along with their friends and loved ones.

“This terrible incident is a reminder of the bravery of paramedics and other 'blue-light' staff who can never know what they will be confronted with when they leave their home and their loved ones to clock on for their shift.”