Nottingham: Students among three killed in knife and van attacks

Two 19-year-old students and a man in his 50s were stabbed to death in attacks in Nottingham, police say.

The University of Nottingham students were killed in Ilkeston Road at about 04:00 BST on Tuesday, while the man’s body was found in Magdala Road.

Police believe the older victim’s van was stolen and used to drive at three people in Milton Street, with one left in a critical condition.

A man, 31, was Tasered by police and held on suspicion of murder.

Nottinghamshire Police said officers were keeping an “open mind” after the “horrific and tragic” attacks in the city, adding detectives were not looking for anyone else.

Speaking at a press conference outside a police station in the city, chief constable Kate Meynell 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 has 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.”

Multiple cordons are in place around the city centre, with Ilkeston Road, Magdala Road, Milton Street and Maple 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.

People who witnessed the attacks have been telling the BBC about what they saw.

One said 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 who have lost their lives,” he said.

Speaking to broadcasters, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said “my thoughts first and foremost are with all of those who’ve been involved, their friends, their families and their communities”.

She urged anyone with any information relating to the incident to report it to the police, who she says should be allowed “time and space” to investigate.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer sent his “thoughts to all those affected and to the emergency services who are responding”.

French president Emmanuel Macron also expressed sympathy for the victims on Twitter.

Witnesses in Bentinck Road described the suspect struggling as officers dragged him out of a white van.

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. They dragged him away and that was about it.”

In a statement, the University of Nottingham said: “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.”

It added help was available through support and wellbeing services.

Its graduation ball, due to take place on Tuesday evening, has been cancelled.

In a statement, the university’s student union said it was “devastated and shocked” by the attacks.

“We stand in solidarity with all our students and the wider city, and our thoughts are with the families and friends of those harmed, alongside those directly and indirectly affected by the unfolding of these terrible events,” it said.

Neighbouring Nottingham Trent University has contacted its students to reassure them.

It said its sites “remain open and fully staffed” for anyone who needed support, and urged any residents affected “to speak to our team about any concerns, and to be with friends in a safe space”.

Ahead of a vigil, Paul Williams – the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham – said “this is a city in shock”.

“But what people in Nottingham do is pull together, friendship is the heart of Nottingham,” he said.

“And that friendship is expressed across faith communities, across people of all ages.

“Our universities are not tucked away on some remote campus, they belong to the city and the students are part of it.”

Hayley Compton, BBC Radio Nottingham

It’s such a strange situation to be in Nottingham city centre, in the blazing hot sunshine, without seeing anyone heading out to go for a drink or head to the theatre.

All of the roads around here are cordoned off and I can see a specialist police officer in full forensic gear – because this is still an active crime scene.

In fact the cordon has been extended, there are places I could walk this morning where I can no longer do so.

It feels like there are more police here than when I arrived here at nine o’clock this morning.

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