Nottingham incident – latest: Two of three people killed in attacks were students, university says

Two 19-year-olds and a man in his 50s were killed in the Nottingham attacks, police said.

Nottinghamshire Police chief constable Kate Meynell, speaking outside a police station in the city, 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 is 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.”

A student who attended the vigil following attacks in Nottingham today that killed three said the attacks have “shook up a lot of people.”

Speaking outside the church, a second-year student at the University of Nottingham said she did not know those killed.

She added of the two deaths on the Ilkeston Road area: “We live fairly close to where, unfortunately, they were found, so it has properly shook up a lot of people.

“It’s really scary. It’s so horrible that this has happened.”

Those attending the vigil included students from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University.

The University of Nottingham confirmed two of the three people killed in today’s attacks were students at the university.

Nottinghamshire Police chief constable Kate Meynell, speaking outside a police station in the city, said: “As you all know, today there has been a shocking and tragic series of events which has led to the lives of three innocent people being taken and left another member of the public in a critical condition in hospital.

“My thoughts are with all the families affected by this horrific incident, and we are working extremely hard to understand exactly what has happened.

“I can tell you that a 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.

“We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the attacks and I can reassure the public that it is safe to visit the city centre – though there may be some road restrictions as we continue to establish what has happened.

“Police were first called to Ilkeston Road just after 4am after a member of the public reported that two people, aged 19, had been stabbed in the street 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 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 had stolen this man’s vehicle and driven it to Milton Street where he drove at members of the public.

“We are still in the early stages of the investigation and need to determine the motives behind these attacks.

“We are keeping an ‘open mind’ and are working alongside Counter Terrorism Policing to establish the facts – as we would normally do in these types of circumstances.

“The families of all of the victims have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.

“Officers have also carried out a number of searches at addresses across the city to gather evidence, but no further arrests have been made.

“A dedicated team of detectives is investigating the circumstances surrounding these incidents and will continue to gather evidence over the coming days.

“I want to thank those who live and work in our city for their patience and understanding in incredibly difficult circumstances. We will, of course, keep the public updated as soon as we are able to say more.

“This is a very sad day for our city and we will do everything possible for the victims and their families.”

The families of the Nottingham attack victims have been informed, police say.

Nottinghamshire Police chief constable Kate Meynell, speaking outside a police station in the city, said: “We are keeping an open mind and are working closely with counter-terrorism policing to establish the facts as we would normally do in this type of circumstance.

“The families of all the victims have been informed and are being supported by specially-trained officers.

“Officers have also carried out a number of searches of addresses across the city to gather evidence, but no further arrests have been made.

“A team of dedicated detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and will continue to gather evidence over the coming days.

“I want to thank those who live and work in our city for their patience and understanding in incredibly difficult circumstances. We will, of course, keep the public updated as soon as we are able to say anything further.”

The home secretary has expressed shock at the attack in Nottingham that left three people dead.

Suella Braverman told broadcasters in Westminster: “First of all, I want to say how shocked and saddened I am that three people have lost their lives earlier today in Nottingham and that further individuals have been injured in this tragic incident.

“My thoughts first and foremost are with all of those who have been involved, their friends, their families and their communities.

“I want to thank the emergency services for their rapid response. They’re working around the clock to keep people safe and we’re incredibly grateful for their efforts.”

She added: “I’m in regular contact with the Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police, but I want to take this opportunity to urge anybody who has any information about this incident to come forward and report it to the police.”

The home secretary said “we’re in a very early stage of the investigation” into the deadly Nottingham attack when asked whether it could have been terror-related.

The home secretary told broadcasters in Westminster: “We need to allow the police the time and the space to carry out all of their operational activity to determine the motive.

“It’s right that Nottinghamshire Police are working with Counter Terrorism Policing. But it’s also fair to say that everybody and all professionals on the front line are keeping an open mind as to what the precise motive might have been.”

The suspect was tasered and arrested after he was suspected of stealing a van to carry out the attacks on Milton Street, the Nottinghamshire Police chief constable said.

A man in his 50s was found dead on Magdala Road. Police believe the attacker stole the man’s vehicle and it was driven at three people in Milton Street, the Nottinghamshire Police chief constable said.

One man remains in hospital in a critical condition while two others suffered minor injuries following that incident.

“We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the attacks and can reassure the public that it is safe to visit the city centre,” says Nottinghamshire Police chief constable.