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Nottingham attacks: Thousands gather in city for vigil
Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates died at the scene of the attacks
Hundreds of people are gathering for a vigil to remember the victims of the Nottingham attacks.
The vigil will feature a minute’s silence, comments from civic leaders and music.
University students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65 were stabbed in the early hours of Tuesday.
Police were earlier granted more time to question the 31-year-old suspect.
They said he was a former student of the university but did not believe this to be behind the attack.
During the vigil in the city’s Old Market Square, the Council House lights will be switched off and a minute’s silence held.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman is due to meet the emergency services who responded to the attacks
Earlier, Home Secretary Suella Braverman added a wreath to flowers laid outside the Council House.
The wreath’s message reads: “In memory of those who lost their lives, those who were injured and everyone who loves them.
“We are with you and with all the people of Nottingham.”
Ms Braverman is due to attend a meeting with police chiefs for an update on the investigation and visit emergency services personnel to thank them for their response to the attacks.
Nottinghamshire Police also confirmed it had referred part of the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), as a marked police car followed the suspect’s van before it collided with two pedestrians.
CCTV pictured a man matching the suspect’s description trying to get into a supporting living complex
Mr Webber and Ms O’Malley-Kumar were attacked with a knife in Ilkeston Road, shortly after 04:00.
Police believe that shortly afterwards, he attacked Mr Coates – who was found dead from knife injuries in Magdala Road – and stole his van, which was then used to hit pedestrians.
Officers have given more details of three other people injured in this part of the attacks.
A man was run over in the Milton Street area and left in a critical condition, but a Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust spokesman said he was now stable.
The suspect was Tasered and arrested after a van was used to run over pedestrians
An attempt was then made to run over two other pedestrians in the Sherwood Street area. They are believed to have suffered minor injuries.
It was this part of the attacks that prompted the referral to the IOPC, police confirmed.
The IOPC confirmed the move and said: “We are assessing the referral to decide what further action may be required of the IOPC.”
Image source, Nottinghamshire Police
Large parts of the city centre were sealed off after the attacks
The suspect was Tasered and arrested after leaving a van and approaching officers with a knife, police said.
The force said it was still working alongside counter-terrorism policing and keeping an “open mind” on the motives behind these attacks.
A statement added: “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, eyewitness accounts and searching a number of properties in the city.”
The families of the students held hands as thousands of people paid their respects at a vigil on Wednesday
Thousands of students, along with Mr Webber’s and Ms O’Malley-Kumar’s families, attended a vigil at the University of Nottingham on Wednesday evening.
The fathers of the two students paid emotional tributes to their children, taking to the podium despite being overcome with grief.
Ms O’Malley-Kumar’s father Sanjoy told the students to look after each other, while Mr Webber’s father David said: “I’ve lost my baby boy.”
