Nottingham was brought to a halt today (June 13) as a guy went on a rampage in a van, killing three people.
Another three people are being treated in hospitals, and a 31-year-old man has been arrested.
Police have yet to reveal a motive or rationale for the heinous attacks, with several eyewitness accounts providing more detail than official comments.
The Incident
Before 4 a.m., police officers were summoned to Ilkeston Road in Nottingham, where they discovered two people dead in the roadway.
Another male was discovered dead nearby on Magdala Road.
Locals reported hearing police cars in the neighbourhood about 5 a.m., and the city centre was shut down within minutes.
Milton Street, Ilkeston Road, Magdala Road, Maples Street, Woodborough Road from the Magdala Road connection into the city, and Maid Marian Way from the Magdala Road junction into the city were all closed.
Local transit has been halted and is not anticipated to resume operations today.
What Nottingham Police have said
The official police line is that the investigation is at an “early stage” and they are refusing to speculate on any motives or reasons for the attack.
They did, however, confirm that all three incidents are connected. The incident is not officially being treated as terror-related. Chief Constable Kate Meynell called it “horrific and tragic”.
She added: “”We believe these three incidents are all linked and we have a man in custody.
“This investigation is at its early stages and a team of detectives is working to establish exactly what has happened.
“We ask the public to be patient while inquiries continue.
“At this time, a number of roads in the city will remain closed as this investigation progresses.”
After a 31-year-old man was detained on suspicion of murder in connection with the event, the city remains under lockdown, with cordons closing off most of the centre and a substantial police presence in place.
Locals find it difficult not to notice and discuss happenings of this magnitude. An unknown individual claimed to have heard “blood-curdling screams” as one of those there.
On Ilkeston Road, he also witnessed a young man and lady getting stabbed, as well as a “black guy dressed all in black with a hood and rucksack grappling with some people.”
“She screamed, ‘Help!’,” he remembered.
Political Reactions
Political and other officials’ reactions Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued a formal statement on the situation via Twitter.
He congratulated the emergency services for their response to the “shocking incident” in Nottingham, and said, “My thoughts are with those injured, as well as the family and loved ones of those who have lost their lives.”
And Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer opened his major interview at London Tech Week by discussing the attacks.
“There was a serious incident in Nottingham this morning,” he stated.
“Information is still coming through but it’s just been reported that three people have lost their lives.
“I’m sure I speak for everyone in this room in saying that we’d like to just send our thoughts to all those affected and to the emergency services who are responding to this as we speak.”