Man, 31, charged with murder of three in Nottingham knife attacks
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A man has been charged with murder following the Nottingham knife attacks.
Valdo Calocane, 31, has been charged with killing three people following several attacks in Nottingham.
As well as three charges of murder, Calocane, is also accused of three counts of attempted murder after a van was allegedly driven at pedestrians in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
First-year University of Nottingham students Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, both 19, were found fatally knifed on Ilkeston Road at around 4.00am.
Caretaker Ian Coates, 65, was then found dead on Magdala Road after his van was allegedly stolen.
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.”
She added: “This has been an incredibly sad time for our city and county, and we stand united with our communities as we come to terms with the effects of what has happened.
“We are keenly aware of the deep emotion being felt surrounding these tragic events and the high level of interest, not only in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire but also across the whole country.
“However, posting prejudicial information online about an active case could amount to contempt of court and, in the most serious cases, have the potential to cause the collapse of a trial.”
After the tragic news broke, Nottingham University - where Barnaby and Grace were students - released a statement saying it's 'shocked and devastated' by the events, which unfolded at around 4.00am in the morning on 13 June.
A spokesperson for the University of Nottingham said: "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."
A male student who knew one of the victims told the BBC: "It hurts, it hurts a lot. It's the first time I'm dealing with something like this and at university it's a challenge for sure.
"The road that I live on leads directly on to the scene of the incident - when it happens on your doorstep you feel scared and frightened. It makes you realise what's important in life, to check on people and see how they're doing."
Calocane, of no fixed address, is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, police said.
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