A man from West Africa, aged 31, has been apprehended on suspicion of murder in Nottingham, England, where three individuals were found fatally stabbed. The incident also involved the suspect stealing a van from a man and subsequently driving into three people waiting at a bus stop.
The BBC reports that the suspect, who has settled status in England, is not a British citizen but has permission to reside in the country for several years. While the authorities have not disclosed the suspect’s name, they have revealed that he has no criminal record but a history of mental health problems.
The tragic events unfolded in two separate locations. Two 19-year-old students were discovered stabbed to death in the western part of Nottingham’s city center shortly after 4:00 a.m. local time. Approximately an hour later, a man in his 50s was also found stabbed to death about two miles away. Subsequently, the suspect allegedly stole the older man’s van and proceeded to drive to the city center.
There, at around 5:30 a.m., he reportedly rammed into three individuals waiting at a bus stop. The police intervened, bringing the van to a halt, tasering the driver, and subsequently making an arrest. The three victims injured in the van attack were taken to the hospital for treatment.
The Sun, a UK media outlet, has released a video purportedly showing the assailant attempting to break into a hostel following the stabbings of the two students. Eyewitnesses provided chilling accounts of the incidents. A witness described observing the stabbing of the students at 4:00 a.m., witnessing a person dressed in black with a hood and backpack engaged in a struggle with two young individuals—a girl and a young man.
The witness regretted not shouting something from the window to deter the assailant, recounting the repeated stabbings that resulted in the young man collapsing in the middle of the road.
Another witness present during the van attack reported that she saw the suspect glance in his mirror, noticing a police car behind him. In response, he accelerated and deliberately struck the victims. The witness described the horrifying scene of the woman being thrown onto the curb while the man was propelled into the air. She expressed deep distress and regret at witnessing the incident.
Authorities have stated that they maintain an open mind regarding the motive behind the attacks and have collaborated with counter-terrorism police. However, they have clarified that they are not seeking any additional suspects related to the killings.
