The suspect in the Nottingham triple knife killings is a former student at the University of Nottingham named Valdo Amissão Mendes Calocane, sources have said.
Calocane, 31, was born in Guinea-Bissau and settled in Nottingham as a child, according to multiple sources.
He is being held in connection with a 90-minute rampage on Tuesday that started before dawn with two 19-year-old students from the university, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, being stabbed in the street. The attacks continued with the stabbing of 65-year-old Ian Coates, whose van was stolen and driven into pedestrians.
The university said it was devastated by the news that the suspect was a former student. Police said they did not believe the link was connected to the attacks or explained the motive behind them.
Calocane remains in custody and on Wednesday magistrates granted detectives an extension to hold him until Friday.
Counter-terrorism officers are part of the investigation and electronic devices linked to the suspect – including a phone he was carrying when arrested – are being searched. Nothing yet points to an indication of an ideological motive.
He is understood to have a history of mental health issues and was previously known to police. Sources say he came to the UK legally and that from no older than seven he settled in Nottingham, where he was educated.
The university said: “We are devastated that the suspect is a former University of Nottingham student. The police have confirmed that this is not believed to be connected with the attack. Our focus remains on supporting the family and friends of Barney and Grace and our wider community. We will continue to support the police in any way we can.”
At a vigil in Nottingham’s old market square on Thursday evening, Webber’s mother, Emma, told the crowd to “hold no hate for any race, religion or colour” in response to the attack.
“The monstrous individual who shattered so many lives will not define us and I know he will receive the retribution he deserves,” she said. “However, this evil person is just that. He is just a person. Please hold no hate that relates to any colour, sex or religion.”
Standing by her side, her son Charlie clutched a photograph of his brother to his chest as she told him Barney “was so proud of you”.
The family of Coates, who was described as a “massive, massive football fan”, attended in Nottingham Forest football shirts. A number of Forest fans were in the crowd.
Ross Middleton, the headteacher of Huntingdon Academy where Coates worked as a site manager, said Coates “looked after people” and “always put the children first”.
“I’ll never forget how excited he was putting plans together and creating his showstopping Christmas displays,” he said. “In recent weeks he had helped year 3 with their sewing project and created castles for children’s reading corners. He was full of fun with a mischievous glint in his eye.”
Coates’ son, James, said his father had “touched a lot of hearts over the years, more than what we assumed and knew that he had”.
O’Malley-Kumar’s family fought back tears as they each delivered speeches to the crowd of thousands of Nottingham residents who came to lay flowers and pay respects.
Her father, Dr Sanjoy Kumar, became emotional as he said: “We were a four and now we are a three.” Her mother, Sinead, said: “All they were doing was walking home.”
All the families paid tribute to how much the city of Nottingham had meant to their loved ones. “Nottingham, he really loved you,” said Emma Webber. “We couldn’t bloody get him home. We stand here and we feel your love and we are united in grief and shock and disbelief, and one day we will smile again, but it will take time.”
Earlier, the home secretary, Suella Braverman, visited the city to lay a floral wreath outside Nottingham Council House before an evening vigil.
A handwritten note attached to the flowers read: “In memory of those who lost their lives, those who were injured and everyone who loves them. We are with you and with all the people of Nottingham.”
Nottinghamshire police said that after stabbing Coates, the attacker twice drove into pedestrians. “He attempted to run over a man in the Milton Street area, who remains in a serious condition in hospital. He then tried to run over two other pedestrians in the Sherwood Street area who are believed to have suffered minor injuries,” the force said.
It said that because its officers were behind the van when this happened, it had referred this incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the police watchdog.
An IOPC spokesperson said: “We received a referral from Nottinghamshire police on Wednesday informing us that a marked police car had been following behind the suspect’s van for a short distance at the time it collided with two pedestrians in the area of Sherwood Street in the city centre on Tuesday morning. We are assessing the referral to decide what further action may be required of the IOPC.”
Calocane was arrested after the van stopped, and officers used a stun gun as they took him into custody.
