Thousands of people gathered in Nottingham on Thursday night (June 14) to pay their emotional respects Grace O’Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber and Ian Coates – who were all fatally stabbed in the violent knife and van rampage..
And as the crowds mourned, the heartbroken mothers of the two 19-year-old students stabbed to death urged the city 'hold no hate' at the vigil.
People gathered at Market Square, with numbers stretching back almost half a kilometre, as they watched on with tears in their eyes. Family members from all three victims delivered heart-wrenching tributes to their loved ones.
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Nottinghamshire Police said detectives were granted a further 36 hours to quiz a suspect after he was tasered and arrested on suspicion of murder.
Talented 19-year-old students Ms O’Malley-Kumar and Mr Webber were found stabbed to death in Ilkeston Road at around 4am on Tuesday. Dedicated school caretaker Mr Coates, 65, was later found dead in Magdala Road after his van was allegedly stolen by the suspect and then driven at pedestrians.
Mr Webber’s mother, Emma Webber, fought back tears as she told the crowd that the 'monstrous individual' responsible for the deaths 'will not define us'.
“I know he will receive the retribution that he deserves,” she said. “However this evil person is just that. He is just a person. Please hold no hate that relates to any colour, sex or religion.”
The history student’s tearful brother and father stood behind Mrs Webber as she clutched his photo and said: “My beautiful, beautiful boy, you have mine, your dad and your brother’s heart forever.”
Mother of medical student Ms O’Malley-Kumar, Sinead O’Malley, echoed the sentiment of holding no hate and urged the crowd: “Be kind to each other, look after each other, don’t have hate in your hearts" and said the magnitude of the grief for her daughter reflects the magnitude of the love she and her family had for her.
A huge number of people watching sobbed as Dr Sanjoy Kumar said their family had 'become three' and called himself a 'broken-heart father' before asking people to imagine a world without violence.
Ms O’Malley-Kumar’s brother James’ voice shook as he called his sister his best friend and said: “If there’s only one message that comes out of this, I urge you all to cherish every moment you spend with your loved ones as you just never know when it will end.”
The sons of Ian Coates paid tribute to their father wearing red Nottingham Forest shirts, which all had 'R.I.P Dad' printed on the back.
One of them, James, promised support to the families of Ms O’Malley-Kumar and Mr Webber before thanking people for the 'kind words' that have poured in about his father.
“It feels like he’s touched a lot of hearts over the years, more than what we assumed and knew that he had, so it’s been really nice and heart-warming to see the messages and people come out and talk about how he was when they were younger and how he’s helped them,” he said.
As well as the fatal stab attacks Nottinghamshire Police said a man also remains in a serious condition in hospital after the van was driven at him in Milton Street.
The force has referred a further incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog after a marked police car followed the vehicle for a short distance before it struck another two pedestrians in Sherwood Street. The IOPC confirmed it was 'assessing the referral to decide what further action may be required'.
The 31-year-old suspect was arrested at 5.30am when the van was eventually stopped. Police revealed that the suspect is a former University of Nottingham student, but said 'this is not believed to be connected with the attack'
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