By PTI
LONDON: The city of Nottingham in central England is in mourning as it prepares for a second vigil in memory of three people killed in a brutal stabbing spree, including British Indian teenage hockey star Grace O’Malley Kumar.
The 19-year-old has since been formally identified by Nottinghamshire Police as one of the victims of the attack in the early hours of Tuesday.
She was killed soon after the fatal stabbing of her friend Barnaby Webber, also 19, and the third victim, 65-year-old Ian Coates, was stabbed to death soon after on a nearby street in the Nottingham city centre.
The victims (Photo | Twitter)
A 31-year-old male suspect, believed to be of West African origin, remains in police custody as counter-terror officials help with the murder investigation.
“I loved my Grace more than I loved anything”.Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s father describes himself as a “broken hearted father”, as he addresses crowds at the vigil in Nottingham. https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/2YLT2jtSZa
— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 15, 2023
“Right now, this is a city in mourning – the whole city is shocked and devastated by this attack, which has killed three people and injured three – one of whom is in critical condition,” Nadia Whittome, British Indian MP from Nottingham, told reporters.
“Nothing like this has happened in Nottingham, certainly not in my lifetime. But our community does have a proud history of coming together and looking after one another in times like this and I know that this time will be no different,” she said.
“Don’t have hate in your hearts, say prayers for my baby girl”Mother of Nottingham attack victim pays tribute to her daughter Grace O’Malley-Kumar at vigil in cityhttps://t.co/EZHGNvAigQ pic.twitter.com/Sk1Tk4SHYL
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) June 15, 2023
On Wednesday, the University of Nottingham held a campus vigil in memory of their two students killed in the attack, which involved moving and tearful tributes from family, friends and fellow students.
“The love that we have out here, I just wish we had it everywhere. So, look after each other,” said Dr Sanjoy Kumar, fighting back his tears for his daughter.
“Grace was not just a sister to James but his best friend. He is completely heartbroken. As parents, words cannot explain our complete and utter devastation. She will be so dearly missed,” he said, joined by his Irish wife Sinead and son James.
It is with profound sadness that we have learned of the death of Grace O’Malley Kumar,a huge talent & much loved member of Southgate U18’s & W1’s. We are shocked & devastated by the news,our thoughts & sincere condolences are with Grace’s family,friends and teammates. pic.twitter.com/bliEVGSQ05
— Southgate Hockey Club (@SouthgateHC) June 14, 2023
There was also some laughter amid the tearful tributes, as Dr Kumar – a respected general practitioner (GP) from London – spoke of trying to persuade his daughter to come back home to visit. “Grace was also like Barnaby, she loved coming up to Nottingham – in fact we couldn’t get her down [to London],” he said.
Grace, a first-year medical student, has been described as a talented hockey and cricket player who also played for the university.
Grace with her family. (Photo | Twitter)
Professor Shearer West, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, said: “Grace was a medical student, thriving in her first year of study and inspired to a career in medicine by work placements in a GP [general practitioner] surgery and her volunteering for the nationwide vaccination programme during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was a talented sportswoman, playing international hockey for both the U16 and U18 England Hockey Team and Essex U15 Women’s Cricket. She was held in the highest regard by her tutors and teammates alike.”
Grace O’Malley Kumar’s brother speaks to the crowd. Heartbreaking pic.twitter.com/v7SHZjD53f
— Anna Whittaker (@journoanna_) June 15, 2023
UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman updated Parliament on the ‘horrific events” on Wednesday to confirm that it is not being treated as a terrorist attack.
“They are currently keeping an open mind as to the motives behind these attacks but I can confirm Nottinghamshire Police are being assisted in their inquiries by counter-terror police. Though, this does not mean that it is currently being treated as a terrorist attack,” said Braverman.
LONDON: The city of Nottingham in central England is in mourning as it prepares for a second vigil in memory of three people killed in a brutal stabbing spree, including British Indian teenage hockey star Grace O’Malley Kumar.
The 19-year-old has since been formally identified by Nottinghamshire Police as one of the victims of the attack in the early hours of Tuesday.
She was killed soon after the fatal stabbing of her friend Barnaby Webber, also 19, and the third victim, 65-year-old Ian Coates, was stabbed to death soon after on a nearby street in the Nottingham city centre.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
The victims (Photo | Twitter)
A 31-year-old male suspect, believed to be of West African origin, remains in police custody as counter-terror officials help with the murder investigation.
“I loved my Grace more than I loved anything”.
Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s father describes himself as a “broken hearted father”, as he addresses crowds at the vigil in Nottingham. https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3
Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/2YLT2jtSZa
— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 15, 2023
“Right now, this is a city in mourning – the whole city is shocked and devastated by this attack, which has killed three people and injured three – one of whom is in critical condition,” Nadia Whittome, British Indian MP from Nottingham, told reporters.
“Nothing like this has happened in Nottingham, certainly not in my lifetime. But our community does have a proud history of coming together and looking after one another in times like this and I know that this time will be no different,” she said.
“Don’t have hate in your hearts, say prayers for my baby girl”
Mother of Nottingham attack victim pays tribute to her daughter Grace O’Malley-Kumar at vigil in cityhttps://t.co/EZHGNvAigQ pic.twitter.com/Sk1Tk4SHYL
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) June 15, 2023
On Wednesday, the University of Nottingham held a campus vigil in memory of their two students killed in the attack, which involved moving and tearful tributes from family, friends and fellow students.
“The love that we have out here, I just wish we had it everywhere. So, look after each other,” said Dr Sanjoy Kumar, fighting back his tears for his daughter.
“Grace was not just a sister to James but his best friend. He is completely heartbroken. As parents, words cannot explain our complete and utter devastation. She will be so dearly missed,” he said, joined by his Irish wife Sinead and son James.
It is with profound sadness that we have learned of the death of Grace O’Malley Kumar,a huge talent & much loved member of Southgate U18’s & W1’s. We are shocked & devastated by the news,our thoughts & sincere condolences are with Grace’s family,friends and teammates. pic.twitter.com/bliEVGSQ05
— Southgate Hockey Club (@SouthgateHC) June 14, 2023
There was also some laughter amid the tearful tributes, as Dr Kumar – a respected general practitioner (GP) from London – spoke of trying to persuade his daughter to come back home to visit. “Grace was also like Barnaby, she loved coming up to Nottingham – in fact we couldn’t get her down [to London],” he said.
Grace, a first-year medical student, has been described as a talented hockey and cricket player who also played for the university.
Grace with her family. (Photo | Twitter)
Professor Shearer West, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, said: “Grace was a medical student, thriving in her first year of study and inspired to a career in medicine by work placements in a GP [general practitioner] surgery and her volunteering for the nationwide vaccination programme during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was a talented sportswoman, playing international hockey for both the U16 and U18 England Hockey Team and Essex U15 Women’s Cricket. She was held in the highest regard by her tutors and teammates alike.”
Grace O’Malley Kumar’s brother speaks to the crowd. Heartbreaking pic.twitter.com/v7SHZjD53f
— Anna Whittaker (@journoanna_) June 15, 2023
UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman updated Parliament on the ‘horrific events” on Wednesday to confirm that it is not being treated as a terrorist attack.
“They are currently keeping an open mind as to the motives behind these attacks but I can confirm Nottinghamshire Police are being assisted in their inquiries by counter-terror police. Though, this does not mean that it is currently being treated as a terrorist attack,” said Braverman.
