Attack took place in an area that hosts thousands of university students
Nottinghamshire Police have arrested a 31-year-old man over suspected links to the murdering of three people and injuring three others in Nottingham early Tuesday.
The British media reported that the attacker, whose identity is yet to be announced by the police, is not a British citizen, but he had settled status. The West-African origin man reportedly had a history of mental health issues and reportedly known to the police.
Barnaby Webber (19), Grace Kumar (19), and Ian Coates, a school caretaker in his 60s, were fatally stabbed in the early hours of Tuesday. Three others were hit by Coates's van, which the attacker stole.
The University of Nottingham said it was "shocked and devastated" as it revealed Webber and Kumar were their students.
In a statement, the University of Nottingham's vice-chancellor, Shearer West, said: "The university is supporting the students' family and friends, and our security team is working closely with Nottinghamshire police and the authorities to support the ongoing investigation into the incident."
Police said they were initially called to Ilkeston Road, where the two students were stabbed to death.
Speaking to Anadolu, Adrija Petronyte, a finance and accounting student in her second year, said she lives at the student blocks, which faces the scene of the incident.
"Mother of my university friend had called her after seeing the news in the early morning; that's how we got to know what had happened. There were police and ambulances all around the area. When I went outside, all I could see was sealed roads. Our usual route to the street is still blocked," Petronyte said.
Joel Riley, an architecture student who had just completed his degree course and enjoying the last days of his stay in Nottingham, also lives meters away from the scene of the attack. "I woke up really early. I heard the sirens and I think I heard some helicopters overhead, it was quite loud and I was woken up by that. I also received so many text messages at around the same time, people asking me whether I was okay," he told Anadolu.
"It's just crazy that this happened so close to us. Nothing like this ever happened here. I literally don't know how to react," Riley said.
An hour after the double murder, the attacker then stabbed Coates and stole his van, which he had used to injure three others.
Police said a male victim is in hospital in critical condition while two others are "believed to have suffered minor injuries."
John K., a Nottingham resident, told Anadolu that his son, who's a street cleaner and was on duty in Nottingham center, had called him shortly after the first attack. "I woke up to his call. He told us the police were all around and the roads were being closed. We told him to stay safe and get back home until things get clearer."
A dozen bouquets of flowers were left at the scene on Ilkeston Road as tributes were paid to students Webber and Kumar.
Kumar played for England's under-18s hockey team and was a "talented" cricketer. Woodford Wells Cricket Club in Essex described Miss Kumar as a "fiercely competitive, talented and dedicated cricketer."
In a statement, Webber's parents said: "Complete devastation is not enough to describe our pain and loss at the senseless murder of our son."
"Barnaby Philip John Webber was a beautiful, brilliant, bright young man with everything in life to look forward to. A talented and passionate cricketer, who was over the moon to have made the selection to his university cricket team," the family said.
The police say a number of roads in the city will remain closed as the investigation progresses.
Nottingham City Council leader David Mellen said he is grateful to the police for swiftly making an arrest and for all the emergency services responding to "this tragic situation."
