CCTV appears to show the suspect trying to get into a homeless shelter
CCTV footage has emerged that shows a man said to be the suspect in the fatal Nottingham attacks.
Students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and school caretaker Ian Coates, were stabbed to death in the city in the early hours of Tuesday.
Three others were injured when a stolen van was driven into pedestrians.
Inquiries revealed a man matching the suspect’s description tried to get into a homeless hostel – an incident not reported to police at the time.
Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar died at the scene of the attacks
University of Nottingham students Mr Webber and Ms O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, were attacked with a knife in Ilkeston Road, with police receiving a call at 04:04 BST.
In an update on the sequence of events, Nottinghamshire Police said investigations had found a man matching the suspect’s description had attempted to gain entry to a supporting living complex in Mapperley Road, but had been denied entry.
CCTV footage seen by the BBC shows a figure in a black hoodie being pushed away from a window and then confronted, before walking off.
The force believes the suspect then attacked 65-year-old Mr Coates – who was found dead from knife injuries in Magdala Road – and stole his van, which was then used to hit pedestrians, leaving one critically injured.
A 31-year-old man was Tasered by officers before being arrested on suspicion of murder.
East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EMAS) has given more details of its involvement in the emergency.
A spokesman said it received an initial call to Ilkeston Road at 04.05, then a second call at 05.25 to Milton Street.
It did not get a call to Magdala Road until 05.39, where CPR was being performed on a victim by police.
Image source, PA Media
Flowers have been left across the city including at the site of the attack in Magdala Road
Police have now formally identified the three victims.
Mr Webber, from Taunton, Somerset, was a history student at Nottingham, with a particular interest in US and China geopolitics.
He was a “key member” of Bishops Hull Cricket Club and had been selected for the university team. He also played hockey and rugby.
His family 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.”
Image source, Nottinghamshire Police
A large part of the city centre was cordoned off by police after the attacks
The family of Ms O’Malley-Kumar – a first-year medical student who excelled in hockey and cricket – issued a statement saying: “Grace was an adored daughter and sister; she was truly wonderful and a beautiful young lady.
“We were so incredibly proud of Grace’s achievements and what a truly lovely person she was.”
Mr Coates, who police had previously said was in his 50s, was described by LEAD Academy Trust as a “much-loved colleague who always went the extra mile”.
Visiting the scene where Mr Coates was found fatally stabbed, his sons Lee and James Coates said their dad was due to retire in four months.
“We know as much as everybody else,” Lee said. “He was a die-hard [Nottingham] Forest fan and an avid fisherman.
“He used to take under-privileged kids fishing just to get away from crime.
“You genuinely couldn’t find a nicer guy.
“If we had to think about it, he’d be lying in a bed with us holding his hand, him dying naturally in 20 to 30 years’ time.”
“Not dying on a street because some guy decided it’s not his day today,” James added.
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