Nottingham prepares for another vigil after families of victims unite in grief

Mourners in Nottingham are preparing for another vigil after the families of the two students killed in the deadly knife attack were joined by thousands of people at the university’s main campus.

On Wednesday, family members of 19-year-old students Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber were seen embracing at the vigil, as Miss O’Malley-Kumar’s father said the two friends “fell together”.

Nottingham City Council announced that a vigil will be held in the Old Market Square on Thursday from 5.30pm, with a minute’s silence at 6pm from the steps of the Council House.

Barnaby’s father David told those gathered on Wednesday that “his heart will be with you guys forever” while Grace’s father Sanjoy told the students to look after each other.

Tributes have continued to pour in for the “talented” young sports stars, who were stabbed to death as they walked home from a night out just after 4am on Tuesday.

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School caretaker Ian Coates, 65, was also killed in the attack, and has been described by his family as a “great father” and a “massive football fan”.

Miss O’Malley-Kumar’s family described the first year medical student as an “adored daughter” and a “truly wonderful and beautiful young lady”, while Mr Webber’s family said the keen cricketer was a “brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to”.

Nottingham attacks: Fathers of victims Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar speak at vigil

Nottingham attacks: School caretaker Ian Coates named as third victim

Nottingham: Family of teen victim of attacks tell of ‘devastation’ at ‘senseless murder’

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On Thursday morning, Barnaby’s parents spent several minutes looking at the bouquets of flowers and reading the messages left for the victims at the university. Several cricket balls were left for the young sports star.

Speaking on Wednesday with Mr Webber’s hand on his shoulder, Mr Kumar said: “Everyone here I really, really want to thank you for your support, for taking the time to be here.

“All of you guys, everywhere that I see, a sea of people, such a lovely sign of the university and the bond you have.

“The love that we have out here, I just wish we had it everywhere. So, look after each other is the big thing.

“Grace and her friend they fell together, and you just need to be friends with everyone. You need to love everyone and I wish we had more of it,” he added.

Mr Webber said he “cannot comprehend” how he is going to deal with his son’s death and said Barnaby would be “super touched by everyone here”.

A 31-year-old man was tasered and arrested on suspicion of murder after the attacks.

Another three people were hurt, one critically, when they were run over by a van.

Mr Coates’ sons left tributes at the scene of his death on Wednesday, describing him as “a die-hard Forest fan” and a keen fisherman who took young people from deprived backgrounds fishing to try to divert them from crime.

Lee Coates said his father was four months from retirement.

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