Nottingham city centre attacks: What we know so far
A series of attacks in the city of Nottingham have claimed the lives of three people and left another 3 injured. Officials have not yet given a motive for the attacks but a man has been arrested.
The attacks took place early on Tuesday morning and details are slowly being released. Here is what we know so far.
What we know so far:
- Two people were found dead in Ilkeston Road, west of Nottingham’s city centre, just after 04:00 BST
- In another incident, a van attempts to run over three people in Milton Street in the city centre. They are being treated in hospital.
- A man in found dead on Magdala Road
- Police say all incidents are linked
- The van was found and an arrest made on Bentinck Road about a mile from Milton Street
- A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody
- No information as to whether it’s terror-related
Who are the victims?
No official information has been released about the victims. One eyewitness said the pair who were stabbed in Ilkeston Road were “a girl, and a man or boy” who “looked quite young”.
There’s no information about the man found dead in Magdala Road.
The three people injured in Milton Street are still being treated in hospital. Of those three, an eyewitness, who saw them get struck by the van, said: The woman was sitting up on the kerb – she looked OK – the man was laying down but then he got up.”
There are no details on the third person injured by the van.
Eyewitness accounts
According to the BBC, Lynn Haggitt witnessed the van being driven into two people in Milton Street.
She says she saw the driver look in his mirror and see a police car behind him. At that point, he “quickened up” before going “straight into” them, she says.
“The woman went on the kerb and the man went up in the air,” she says. “It was such a bang – I wish I never saw it – it’s really shaken me up.”
“I went over. Perhaps I shouldn’t have gone over, but I wanted to see if I could help.”
An eyewitness who wanted to remain anonymous told the BBC he saw a young man and woman stabbed in Ilkeston road at about 04:00 BST. He said he saw a guy dressed all in black with a hood and rucksack grappling with some people. It was a girl, and a man or boy she was with – they looked quite young.
“She was screaming ‘help!’ I just wish I’d shouted something out of the window to unnerve the assailant.
“I saw him stab the lad first and then the woman. It was repeated stabbing – four or five times. The lad collapsed in the middle of the road.”
“I saw him stab the lad first and then the woman. It was repeated stabbing – four or five times. The lad collapsed in the middle of the road.”
Eyewitness of the two stabbed and killed on Ilkeston road
The man said he phoned 999 and police arrived within five minutes and paramedics spent 40 minutes trying to revive the pair.
What have police said?
Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Kate Meynell said police are keeping an open mind about the motive.
“We are at the early stages of the investigation and need to determine the motives behind these attacks and will keep the public updated as soon as we are able to say more,” she said at a press conference.
“Currently, we do not believe there is anyone else involved in this incident.”
Police Chief Constable Kate Meynell
“We are keeping an open mind as we investigate the circumstances surrounding these incidents and are working alongside Counter Terrorism Policing to establish the facts – as we would normally do in these types of circumstances.
“We do have a man in custody who has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Currently, we do not believe there is anyone else involved in this incident.”
House raided on Ilkeston Road
A house was raided just before 13:00 BST as armed police stormed the property and a police cordon is now in place.
Mohammed Qasim and Nisar Ahmed, who work at Xclusive Hair Studio next door, said the property had also been raided last year.
“The for sale sign has been up for about two-three months,” said Mohammed. “We haven’t seen anyone since.”
