Thousands join vigil outside students" union at Nottingham University Thousands of people joined a vigil outside the students’ union at the University of Nottingham to pay tribute to Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar. Their families sat in the front row and were clearly very emotional as staff and students led a series of tributes. Daisy Forster, the community officer at the union, said: “What should have been one of our biggest celebrations turned into one of our darkest days. “What was taken from us yesterday will never be given back and the shock waves echo through our student community.” She paid condolences to the students’ families and said they had “38,000 students standing behind them”. 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. Here is CCTV footage obtained by ITV News allegedly shows the suspect of a triple knife attack in Nottingham being Tasered and arrested by police officers. At the centre of a sea of University of Nottingham students, the parents of Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar clung to each other for support. The huge turnout at Wednesday’s vigil was testament to the impact the students made in one academic year at the university – the two friends were excellent sportspeople, incredibly sociable and academically gifted. Their families were seated on the front row, meeting for the first time since they found out their 19-year-old children had been killed alongside each other while walking home from a night out, in a seemingly random act of violence. The families had hugged each other and sobbed as they met. “The love that we have out here, I just wish we had it everywhere,” said O’Malley-Kumar’s father, Sanjoy Kumar, as he addressed the crowd at the end of the vigil. “Look after each other. Look after your friends. It’s so important. Grace and her friend, they fell together.” Simon Culter, a cricket coach who coached Barnaby Webber in his home town in Somerset, described him as a “fantastic and charming young man”. “I don’t think many of us can quite get our heads around what’s happened so far,” he told Sky News. “He was never a troublemaker, he was a peacemaker. He was a lovely chap that was walking this lovely lady home after a night out. He would have never been looking for trouble.” Culter added: “I don’t like to think about the details too much, but it’s a senseless waste of young life and a senseless waste of somebody who had such a very bright future.” The University of Nottingham men’s cricket team has paid tribute to Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar. The first team will play its final British University and Colleges Sport game in memory of the victims of the Nottingham attacks. The team and their opponents will wear black tape to pay their respects and hold a two-minute silence beforehand, Sky News reported. Ollie Chaplin, who plays on the team, said: “No words can be used to describe them, they were incredible people. “Barney, I think we can agree for those who knew him was one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. “He went down to Exeter with me on a little trip, didn’t really know anyone at the club and just threw himself into it with a smile on his face.” Speaking about Grace, Chaplin added: “She was one of my best friends. I can’t describe how much I’m going to miss her.” Summary Today’s developments in the Nottingham attack: 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. Paramedics arrived at the road where Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar were fatally stabbed within five minutes of being called, East Midlands ambulance service (EMAS) said. In a statement, EMAS said: East Midlands ambulance service NHS Trust (EMAS) received a call at 04.05 hours on Tuesday 13 June 2023. The caller reported a stabbing incident on Ilkeston Road, Nottingham. Our first resource arrived on scene within five minutes (at 04.10 hours). A second call was received at 05.25 hours to Milton Street, Nottingham. The caller reported people hit by a vehicle – we also received another call reporting this incident. Our first resource arrived at that scene at 05.36 hours. At 05.39 hrs we received a call to Magdala Road, Nottingham. The caller reported a medical emergency. Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was being performed by police. In response to all three incidents, we sent a number of ambulance resources to the scene including ambulance cars, double crewed ambulances, our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), a specialist practitioner, tactical managers, and we were supported on scene by medics and colleagues from the air ambulance. EMAS transported five patients to hospital via land ambulance. A former pupil at a secondary school where Ian Coates used to work described him as an “amazing man” whose kind words and encouragement paved the way for the life she now leads. Kaleigh Wylie, 35, from Nottingham, said she attended the River Leen school in Bulwell, also known as the Bulwell Academy, in the early 2000s when he was the caretaker. “Ian helped pave my life from the age of 16 and I am where I am today for the kind words and encouragement from Ian,” she told the PA news agency. “He loved his job, he loved us children, it’s just heartbreaking.” She said he would organise fishing tournaments for pupils at the school. “He never shouted, never got angry with any of us children, and we all know us children are a handful as teenagers, but he never did. “He would talk to us, encourage us to do better with life and he always kept us out of harm’s way. “He was just a fantastic bloke.” Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s father, Sanjoy Kumar, thanked those present “for your support, for taking the time to be here. All you guys, everywhere that I can see, a sea of people. Such a lovely sign of unity, the bond you have.” “Grace was also, like Barney, she loved coming up to Nottingham. In fact, we couldn’t get her down.” He continued: “The love that we have out here, I just wish we had it everywhere. “Look out for each other, that’s the big thing. Look after your friends, and look after the people around you. It’s so important.” He said his daughter “loved being here, and she loved all of you”. She was “full of her stories”. “You have all touched her life and hence ours. “We have children who were taken away prematurely from us and that should never happen to any parent. But all I can say is all of you, thank you for the things you did for our daughter and Barney. And look out for each other.” The tearful fathers of Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar addressed the vigil. “I’m lost for words, I’ve lost my baby boy,” David Webber said. “I cannot comprehend how I am going to deal with it. “Myself and Emma and Charlie and his family and friends … I know Barney would be super touched by everyone that’s here. “He loved it. He loved it here. He couldn’t wait to come back. It drove me mad. “His heart will be with you guys forever and thank you so much. I really can’t say much more.” The families of Barnaby and Grace were seen embracing each other. Many of those attending the vigil could be seen wiping away tears and quietly consoling each other. Students and staff laid flowers. The families of the two students also laid flowers. Grant Walton, from the university chaplaincy, began the vigil by saying: “This is one of those moments which we hoped we’d never encounter. “Students and staff of the university, community members and, most importantly, family and friends of precious Grace and Barnaby, some travelling many miles to be with us.” The university’s vice-chancellor, Prof Shearer West, said the lives of the two 19-year-olds had been “curtailed” by a “seemingly random” act of violence. Thousands join vigil outside students" union at Nottingham University Thousands of people joined a vigil outside the students’ union at the University of Nottingham to pay tribute to Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar. Their families sat in the front row and were clearly very emotional as staff and students led a series of tributes. Daisy Forster, the community officer at the union, said: “What should have been one of our biggest celebrations turned into one of our darkest days. “What was taken from us yesterday will never be given back and the shock waves echo through our student community.” She paid condolences to the students’ families and said they had “38,000 students standing behind them”. The sons of Ian Coates said their father was due to retire in four months. Lee Coates told reporters: “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,” Lee’s brother James added. Lee continued: “He was due to retire in four months, he was still grafting. “It’s rocked everyone’s world.” James added: “He was everyone’s friend, always willing to help. “Nobody deserves this but he definitely didn’t. None of them did, it’s a tragedy.” The suspect in the triple knife attack in Nottingham was arrested after allegedly approaching police officers with a knife, it has been revealed. The 31-year-old man remained in custody on Wednesday as detectives try to establish why a man went on the rampage stabbing three people to death and driving into pedestrians with a van he had stolen from one of his victims. 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 Guardian understands that investigators believe the suspect was residing in Nottingham and had previous links to London. Police gave a sequence of events for the series of attacks that left two 19-year-old University of Nottingham students, Grace Kumar and Barnaby Webber, dead. A third stabbing victim was Ian Coates, a school caretaker in his 60s, whose van the man stole and then used to drive into pedestrians near the Theatre Royal, injuring one man critically, as well as two others. Ian Coates"s sons say "you genuinely couldn"t find a nicer guy" Lee and James Coates, the sons of Ian Coates, have described him as a “massive, massive football fan” and a “great father” , adding that his death had “rocked everyone’s world”. Speaking at the scene where their father was found fatally stabbed, they told reporters the school caretaker would have been on his way to work at the time of the attack. “We know as much as everybody else,” Lee said. “He was a die-hard Forest fan and an avid fisherman. “He used to take underprivileged kids fishing just to get away from crime. “You genuinely couldn’t find a nicer guy.” Ian Coates’s grandson left a bouquet of flowers at the scene on Magdala Road, with a note reading: “Missed every minute and every hour. We miss you dearly.” Lee Coates left a vintage England shirt with a message in marker pen reading: “Dad, love you always and forever.” James Coates, left a Nottingham Forest shirt on the pavement with a message written on it, which said: “Dad, taken too soon, rest in peace, you will be missed. Love you, J x”