Thousands attend vigil as families of victims embrace– latest

The man believed to be the suspect behind the Nottingham attacks tried to break into a care home moments before he killed his first victims, it has been claimed.

CCTV footage shows a man looking for a way to enter Seely Hirst House residential home which houses vulnerable and homeless people.

Witnesses said he arrived at the home on Mapperley Road just after 4am and was seen trying to climb an open window.

Alex Pridmore, the trustee of All Saints Shelter which operates the residential care home said: “None of our residents were hurt. A resident had woken up during the night and the footage showed someone trying to gain access through a ground floor window at about 4am”.

He added “a resident had woke up and shut the window and prevented the man from coming in. The CCTV has been provided to the police.”

After failing to enter the home, the man then left the property.

Residents living in Nottingham city centre have described woke up to a “blood-curdling scream” during a string of early morning attacks that left three people dead.

Within hours, Nottinghamshire Police declared a major incident after multiple victims were stabbed and three more were run over by a van, believed to have been stolen from one of the earlier casualties.

Two students from the University of Nottingham, Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar, were killed in the attacks on Tuesday.

Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s father thanked the thousands of people who came out to pay tribute to his daughter and Barnaby Webber.

“Everyone here I really want to thank you for your support, for taking the time to be here, all of guys everywhere, I see a sea of people. Such a lovely sign of the University and the bond you have.

“Grace was also like Barney she loved coming up to Nottingham, in fact we couldn’t get her down. I said to her last week come down and she said after she’s had a few more sessions. I used to call them her crisis meetings.

“But, you know the love we have out here, I just wish we had it everywhere. So, look after each other. The big thing is that, look after your friends and look after people around you, that is so important.

“I think Grace and her friend, they fell together, and you need to be friends with everyone and need to love everyone and I wish we had more of it.”

Stood next to Barnaby’s father, he added: “We had children taken from us prematurely, that should never happen to any parent”.

Fighting through tears, Barnaby Webber’s father said: “I’ve lost my baby boy and I can’t even begin to comprehend how I’m going to deal with it.

He added: “He [Barnaby] loved it here, he couldn’t wait to come back, drove me mad. His heart will be with you guys forever and thank you so much, I really can’t talk much more.”

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 Professor Shearer West said the lives of the two 19-year-olds had been “curtailed” by a “seemingly random” act of violence.

Thousands of people have turned out at a vigil on the University of Nottingham‘s main campus following the deaths of medical student Grace Kumar and history student Barnaby Webber.

Crowds gathered at the top of the Djangoly steps near the university’s Portland building on Wednesday afternoon ahead of proceedings.

Many of those in attendance could be seen wiping away tears and consoling each other in a respectful silence.

The photo below shows a CCTV image of a man standing outside Seely Hirst House residential home which houses vulnerable and elderly people.

The attempted break-in happened shortly after 4am, a witness has said.

Ian Coates’ 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.”

Another of Mr Coates’ sons, 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”

Pictures show flowers and football shirts left by the family of Ian Coates at the scene where he was found killed on Tuesday morning.

One message from his son reads: “Dad, love you. Always forever. Lee”