Nottingham: Look after each other, attack victim’s father urges

The fathers of two university students killed in attacks in Nottingham have paid emotional tributes to them in a vigil attended by thousands of people.

Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, were killed in the early hours of Tuesday, along with school caretaker Ian Coates, 65.

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

The vigil was held at the University of Nottingham, where the students studied.

Speaking to the crowds of people, Ms O’Malley-Kumar’s father Sanjoy told the students to look after each other.

“Grace and her friend, they fell together, and you just need to be friends with everyone. You need to love everyone and I wish we had more of it,” he said.

“But most of all, all of you guys, everyone who’s here who Grace may not have even touched, I really thank you for being here and taking the time.

“She loved being here and she loved all of you. She really did and you should all feel very blessed.”

His said his daughter was “so full of her stories and things that she said about all of you, and you’ve all touched her life. And hence ours”.

“You’ll never be forgotten by us, certainly. We have children who were taken away prematurely from us, that should never happen to any parent.”

Speaking through tears, Mr Webber’s father David told the crowd: “I’m lost for words, I’ve lost my baby boy. I cannot comprehend how I am going to deal with it.

“Myself and Emma and Charlie and his family and friends… I know Barney would be super-touched by everyone that’s here.

“He loved it here. He couldn’t wait to come back. It drove me mad. His heart will be with you guys forever and thank you so much. I really can’t talk much more.”

The attacks began with the fatal stabbing of Mr Webber and Ms O’Malley-Kumar in Ilkeston Road, with police receiving a call at 04:04 BST on Tuesday.

Officers believe Mr Coates – who was found dead from knife injuries in Magdala Road – was then attacked, with his van being stolen and used to hit pedestrians in Milton Street, leaving one critically injured.

The suspect was Tasered by officers before being arrested.

Flowers were laid for the students, who were killed as they walked home after a night out.

Mr Webber read history at the university and Ms O’Malley-Kumar studied medicine.

In a moving speech, student union community officer Daisy Forster told the families the city’s students would support them, adding “we will always be here when you need us”.

The Reverend Grant Walton, from the university chaplaincy, described the deaths as “one of those moments which we hoped we’d never encounter” while the university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Shearer West, said the lives of the victims had been “curtailed” by a “seemingly random” act of violence.

Both students were keen and talented sportspeople and their university team-mates, wearing sports kit, were among the crowd assembled to remember them.

Mr Webber, of Taunton, Somerset, played hockey, rugby and cricket and Ms O’Malley-Kumar played hockey and cricket.

Prof Shearer West told the crowd: “What should have been a time of celebration and relaxation following the exam period has become a time to mourn tragic loss in the most unimaginable of circumstances.”

She said the university was supporting both students’ families, adding support was available to any students or colleagues affected by the tragedy.

The university and communities across Nottingham had come together in “grief and remembrance of two much-loved students”, she added.

Mr Coates, whose sons had earlier left tributes at the scene of his death, was also remembered at the event.

While visiting the scene where Mr Coates was found fatally stabbed, Lee and James Coates said their dad was due to retire in four months.

“He used to take under-privileged kids fishing just to get away from crime. You genuinely couldn’t find a nicer guy,” Lee said.