Tributes to sporting students killed in Nottingham attacks
Two 19-year-old university students and a man in his 50s were victims of an attacker who stole the older victim’s van and attempted to run over three people in Nottingham.
Nottinghamshire Police said a 31-year-old man was verbally abused on suspicion of murder and arrested after the fatal shooting and remains in custody.
Tributes were paid to talented cricketer Barnaby Webber and England Under-18 hockey player Grace Kumar, who were killed in the attacks in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Both were students at the University of Nottingham.
In a statement, Taunton-based Bishops Hull Cricket Club paid tribute to Mr Webber, who was one of its members, and described him as a “dear friend”.
The victim was described as an “important part” of the club and the statement called on family and friends to lay flowers and pay their respects at the scene.
Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan also paid tribute to Mr Webber, describing him as “a young cricketer gone far too soon”.
A former Taunton School student also paid tribute to the Old Tauntonians alumni group on Facebook, describing him as a “wonderful young man to look forward to”.
Ms Kumar was a popular member of England ice hockey teams, the sport’s governing body said.
England Hockey tweeted: “We are all deeply saddened by the news of the tragic death of Grace Kumar in Nottingham on Tuesday.
“Grace was a well-loved member of the England Under-16 and Under-18 squads and our thoughts are with Grace’s family, friends, team-mates and the wider hockey community at this time.”
Chief Constable Kate Meynell told reporters police were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incidents and had made no further arrests.
The two 19-year-old victims were fatally stabbed at around 4am in Ilkeston Road, a student area of Nottingham.
Ms Meynell said the body of the man, in his 50s, was found on Magdala Road.
According to police, all three were found fatally stabbed by citizens on the street.
In a brief statement Tuesday afternoon, Ms Meynell said police believe the attacker then stole the elderly man’s van before driving it into pedestrians on Milton Street.
The vehicle was stopped by officers on Maple Street before the suspect was stunned and arrested, Ms Meynell said.
Three people were injured in the van attack, one was in critical condition in hospital and two suffered minor injuries.
The police chief said the motive behind the attack has yet to be determined, but officers are “open-minded” and cooperating with anti-terrorist police.
GB News reported that the suspect was a West African migrant.
Ms Meynell said the families of all the victims have been informed and are being assisted by specially trained officers.
Hundreds of people attended a vigil at St Peter’s Church in Nottingham city center to pay their respects to those who died and were injured.
During the service, attended mainly by students from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, those present were invited to place flowers under the altar or light a candle.
All day Tuesday, witnesses gave harrowing reports of the attacks. One told the BBC he heard “terrible, bloodcurdling screams” and saw a “black man dressed all in black, with a hood and a backpack, arguing with some people”.
Ms Meynell confirmed officers had searched a number of properties around the city – with cordons set up on various sections of Ilkeston Road.
A terraced house on the street was guarded by police, and staff at a neighboring hair salon said it was searched last year.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said “we are at a very early stage of the investigation” when asked if the attack might have been linked to terrorism.
She told broadcasters in Westminster: “We need to give the police the time and space to carry out all their operational activities to establish motive.”
“It is right that Nottinghamshire Police are cooperating with the Anti-Terrorism Police. But it’s also fair to say that any and all frontline professionals are open to what the precise motive might have been.”