Nottingham: Students among three killed in Nottingham attacks

Two 19-year-old students and a man in his 50s were stabbed to death in attacks in Nottingham that also left three people injured, police have said.

Police believe the older victim’s van was stolen and driven at three other people, with one left critically ill.

Investigators have not identified the victims, but one of the students has been confirmed as Barnaby Webber.

A suspect is in custody. Police – working with counter-terror officers – have an “open mind” about a motive.

The 31-year-old suspect was Tasered by police before being arrested on suspicion of murder.

Police, who described the incidents as “horrific and tragic” attacks, said detectives were not looking for anyone else in connection with the inquiry.

A vigil has been held in the city for people to pay their respect to the victims.

Police said they were first called just after 04:00 BST after a member of the public reported that two people aged 19 had been stabbed and were unresponsive in Ilkeston Road.

There was then another call to Milton Street, where the driver of a stolen van had attempted to run over three people, chief constable Kate Meynell said.

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 Maples Street, where a man was Tasered and detained 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 has then driven at members of the public,” police said.

Police said they were still in the early stages of the investigation and were yet to determine exactly what the motives were behind this attack.

Somerset’s Bishops Hull Cricket Club released a tribute to Mr Webber, who they described as “our dear friend and teammate”.

“‘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,” they said.

“His memory will live on.”

Multiple cordons are still in place around the city centre, with Ilkeston Road, Magdala Road, Milton Street and Maples Street remaining shut.

Armed officers also raided a property in Ilkeston Road shortly before 13:00.

Two women were seen being taken away from a commercial property on the road in a police van.

One eyewitness told the BBC he saw a young man and young woman being stabbed in Ilkeston Road, close to the junction with Bright Street, at about 04:00.

The man, who asked to remain anonymous, said he heard “awful, blood-curdling screams” and saw a man 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 said.

“She was screaming ‘Help!’. I just wish I’d shouted something out of the window to unnerve the assailant.

“I saw him stab the lad first and then the woman. It was repeated stabbing – four or five times. The lad collapsed in the middle of the road.

“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.”

A male student, who knew one of the victims, said: “It hurts, it hurts a lot.

“It’s the first time I’m dealing with something like this and at university it’s a challenge for sure.

“The road that I live on leads directly on to the scene of the incident – when it happens on your doorstep you feel scared and frightened.

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

Some victims injured in the van attack were waiting at a bus stop, the leader of Nottingham City Council told the BBC.

David Mellen said he believed the police were taking the time to contact victims’ families before releasing any details, so he could not say any more at the moment.

Speaking on BBC Radio Nottingham about those injured, he said their “only crime was to be waiting at a bus stop early in the morning”.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said earlier he was being kept updated on developments.

“My thoughts are with those injured, and the family and loved ones of those…