By Steve Hopkins
The University of Nottingham has confirmed that two of the people killed in the attacks were its students.
Two of the victims killed in Nottingham were students walking home from a night out, reports claim.
The Mirror states that the man and the woman are understood to have lived in the same halls of residence and that they had been on their way home when they were stabbed to death on Ilkeston Road in one of a string of linked incidents in the city early on Tuesday (13 June).
The pair are reported to have passed away close to the student halls in Lenton.
A friend of the male victim told the publication:
“He was a friend of mine. He was just walking home from a club like we all do. They just got unlucky.
“They were just five minutes from home and both got stabbed by some random guy.”
The friend also said that both of the victims were in their first year at the University of Nottingham.
The educational institution has since confirmed that two of the people killed in the attacks were its students. It said in a statement:
“It is with great sadness that we confirm the sudden and unexpected death of two of our students following a major incident in Nottingham city centre overnight.
“We are shocked and devastated by the news and our thoughts are with those affected, their families and friends.
“We know this is likely to cause distress for staff and students in our community. Support is available through our support and wellbeing services for any of our community who may need it.”
It is with great sadness that we confirm the sudden and unexpected death of two of our students following a major incident in #Nottingham city centre overnight.
We are shocked and devastated by the news and our thoughts are with those affected, their families and friends. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/WMvi0NFPNH
— Uni of Nottingham #WeAreUoN (@UniofNottingham) June 13, 2023
In a separate statement, the students’ union announced that the Grad Ball due to take place this evening has been cancelled.
After declaring a “major incident” on Tuesday morning, Nottinghamshire Police revealed they attended crime scenes they believed were linked and that three people were dead. Another three are in hospital.
Shortly after 4am, officers were called to Ilkeston Road where two people were found dead.
They were then called to Milton Street where a van had attempted to run over three people, who are now being treated in hospital. One, a man, is in critical condition, while the two others are believed to have suffered minor injuries.
Another man was also found dead on Magdala Road.
A male, 31, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and he remains in custody. Nottinghamshire Police said officers were working with counter-terrorism policing colleagues to investigate the circumstances but were keeping an “open mind”.
Currently, police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the attacks.
