A 31-year-old man has been arrested after three people were found dead in Nottingham in a “horrific and tragic incident,” local police said.
In a statement on Tuesday, Nottinghamshire Police said: “Police were called to Ilkeston Road just after 4 a.m. where two people were found dead in the street.
“Officers were then called to another incident in Milton Street where a van had attempted to run over three people. They are currently being treated in hospital.
“A man has also been found dead in Magdala Road.
“Police have arrested a 31-year-old man on suspicion of murder and he remains in police custody.”
Chief Constable Kate Meynell said: “This is a horrific and tragic incident which has claimed the lives of three people.
“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.
Van ‘Went Straight Into’ People
Witness Lynn Haggitt told Channel 4 News that she saw a van hitting two people.“At half past five I saw a van pull up at the side of me,” she said.
“It was white, all white. There was a police car behind it coming up slowly, no flashing lights.
“The man in the driver’s seat looked in his mirror and saw the police car behind him.”
She said the white van then drove up to “the corner of the street and went into two people.”
“The lady ended up on the curb, and then he backed up the white van and he went, speeded up Parliament Street with the police cars following him,” Haggitt added.
‘Unimaginable’
Responding to the news, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wrote on Twitter: “I want to thank the police and emergency services for their ongoing response to the shocking incident in Nottingham this morning.“I am being kept updated on developments. The police must be given the time to undertake their work.
“My thoughts are with those injured, and the family and loved ones of those who have lost their lives.”
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said she is “shocked and saddened” at the deaths in Nottingham and has spoken with the chief constable of Nottinghamshire Police.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer sent his “thoughts to all those affected and to the emergency services who are responding” to the incident.
Nottingham’s three Labour MPs—Nadia Whittome, Lilian Greenwood, and Alex Norris—said they were “shaken” by the events.
A joint statement posted on Twitter by Whittome said: “Our city has been devastated by the deaths of three people this morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who have died and those injured.”
It added: “Nottingham is a beautiful city, home to brilliant people from all backgrounds. We are shaken by today’s events but will meet them collectively as a community and heal together.”
Ben Bradley, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council and Conservative MP for Mansfield, said: “The incident in Nottingham is absolutely tragic. My heart goes out to all those affected, and to the families of the people who have been killed. To see this kind of violence on our city’s streets is unimaginable, and emotional for everyone who lives and works here.”
