Who was Nottingham attack victim Ian Coates?
A SCHOOL caretaker and two university students have been named as the three victims knifed to death amid a horror rampage in Nottingham.
Tragedy first struck around 4am on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, with a man arrested on suspicion of murder in the hours that followed.
Who was Ian Coates?
Ian Coates was a school caretaker who was killed in the tragic sunrise attack in Nottingham.
He is understood to have been found dead on the side of Magdala Road at around 5.30am.
Police believe Ian was knifed by the attacker, who stole his van.
The van was then used to run over three people – leaving one man in a critical condition and two others suffering minor injuries.
Ian is thought to have only bought the van weeks ago after it was listed on eBay at the start of May.
Ian worked at the L.E.A.D. Academy Trust and Huntingdon Academy, where staff have now paid tribute to him.
Headteacher Ross Middleton dubbed him “a much-loved colleague who always went the extra mile for the benefit of our children”.
Ross, who said Ian would be greatly missed, added: “As a school community, it will take time to process this deeply upsetting news.”
L.E.A.D CEO Diana Owen said she was “deeply shocked and
saddened to hear about” the school caretakers death.
Diana said: “Ian was a beloved and respected member of the
Huntingdon Academy staff.
“My thoughts are with his family and friends during this extremely
sad time.”
What happened in the Nottingham attack?
Police rushed to Ilkeston Road just after 4am on June 13, 2023, after witnesses revealed they heard “blood-curdling screams“.
Onlookers described the horror moment they claim they saw the knifing take place, before police swarmed the scene.
This was understood to be when Grace and Barnaby were killed.
Police were then called to Milton Street where the stolen van was used to run over three people – leaving one man in a critical condition with two others suffering minor injuries.
Detectives – including terror cops – believe the suspect had stolen the van from nearby Magdala Road, where he killed the vehicle’s owner.
This is said to be when Ian was knifed to death.
The suspect was ultimately arrested about 5.30am, after being Tasered by cops who dragged him from the vehicle.
Police confirmed before 10am the 31-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of murder, and was being held in custody.
They then revealed they were not looking for anyone else in connection to the tragedy – while keeping an “open mind” around the alleged killer’s movie.
The alleged lone-wolf attacker, who is yet to be named, is understood to be of West African decent and have mental health issues.
Who were Grace Kumar and Barnaby Webber?
Grace Kumar and Barnaby Webber, both 19, were University of Nottingham students and the first two victims named.
The pair were said to be making their way home to student accommodation from a nightclub on the morning he died.
The teens were said to be just five minutes from home when the horror unfolded.
Barnaby Webber was a keen cricketer, and his family dubbed him “beautiful, brilliant, and bright”.
Grace was an up-and-coming England hockey star, and had risen up the ranks through London’s Southgate Hockey Club.
A pal told The Sun she was struggling with “grieving”.