A man has been charged with the murder of three people killed in Nottingham in a knife and van attack, police have said.
Nottinghamshire Police said Valdo Calocane, 31, has been charged with three counts of murder over the deaths of students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both aged 19, and Ian Coates, 65, who were all fatally stabbed on Tuesday.
Calocane, of no fixed address, is also charged with three counts of attempted murder, the force said, in connection to three people who were struck by a van later the same day.
The defendant is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.
Chief Constable Kate Meynell, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “These charges are a significant development and arise as a result of our thorough investigation into these horrific incidents that occurred in our city.“
“Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of all those affected by these attacks, and we will continue to provide support and reassurance.”
Medical student Miss O’Malley-Kumar and history student Mr Webber were found dead in Ilkeston Road at around 4am on Tuesday. They had been returning from a night out when they were attacked.
Dedicated school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, was then found dead in Magdala Road after his van was allegedly stolen by the suspect, who was said to have used it to drive into three people who were then taken to hospital.
Calocane is accused of using the van to drive at pedestrians in Milton Street - an incident which resulted in one person being taken to hospital in a critical condition and two others suffering minor injuries. Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust said two patients are now stable and one has been discharged following the van incidents.
Cricketers from both England and Australia wore black armbands to “show solidarity” with the victims and their families as they took to the field at Edgbaston on Friday, for the first test of the Ashes. A period of silence was held before the national anthems.
Thousands also flocked to Market Square in Nottingham on Thursday for a vigil for the three victims. Members of the families and civic and faith leaders paid tribute to them.
Ian Coates’ son James told the crowd: “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 heartwarming to see the messages and people come out and talk about how he was when they were younger and how he’s helped them... some beautiful comments.
“We just wanted to say a quick thing that we’re still dealing with what’s happened, we still haven’t took it all in, so we just wanted to say a few things.
“Dad was an avid fisherman, he loved his family and he also loved his Forest. You Reds.”
Barnaby Webber’s mother Emma told the vigil: “We stand here and we feel your love and we are united in grief and shock and disbelief, and one day we will smile again, but it will take time.”
Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s mother Sinead said the magnitude of the grief for her daughter reflects the magnitude of the love she and her family had for her.
She said: “My beautiful baby girl, she wasn’t just beautiful on the outside, you must have seen her pictures, she was so beautiful on the inside. She was a treasure, an adored child.”
