A summary of today's developments
The three victims have been formally identified as police confirmed they all died of knife wounds.
Nottinghamshire police said University of Nottingham students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both aged 19, died after having been stabbed.
Ian Coates, 65, a school caretaker was later found dead also from knife injuries in Magdala Road.
Another man, in critical condition in hospital, was one of three pedestrians allegedly hit by the suspect who was driving a van.
Thousands of people joined a vigil outside the students’ union at the University of Nottingham to pay tribute to the two students.
The vigil was attended by the families of the two students, who addressed those present.
Webber’s parents described their son in a statement as a “beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to”.
In a statement, Kumar’s parents spoke of their “complete and utter devastation”, describing her as “an adored daughter and sister” and “a truly wonderful and beautiful young lady”.|
The sons of Ian Coates said he was due to retire in four months. “He was everyone’s friend, always willing to help,” said his son James. “You genuinely couldn’t find a nicer guy,” said son Lee.
The suspect, a 31-year-old man, remained in custody on Wednesday.
Counter-terrorism officers are assisting the investigation by Nottinghamshire police, but multiple sources say the suspect’s mental health is an active line of investigation as police try to determine a motive.
The vice-chancellor of the University of Nottingham, Prof Shearer West, spoke of the shock and grief “at the senseless loss of two first-year students who have had their bright futures brutally curtailed by a seemingly random act of violence”.
The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, paid tribute to the victims of the attack, saying the thoughts of all in the House of Commons are with the injured and the families of those who died.
Paramedics had arrived at the road where Barnaby and Grace died within five minutes of being called, East Midlands ambulance service said.
Detectives are investigating whether an alleged attempt to break into a homeless hostel by the suspect in the Nottingham triple knife attacks was a search for more victims or a sign of erratic behaviour, writes Vikram Dodd and Helen Pidd.
The investigation into Tuesday’s attacks which killed three people has established that the suspect arrested had a history of mental health issues and was previously known to police, multiple sources have told the Guardian.
Two 19-year-old students at Nottingham University, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber , were stabbed first and found dying in the street just after 4am.
Footage unearthed on Wednesday shows a man clad in black and with a bag, matching the suspect for the attacks, attempting to break into a hostel through an open window.
