Ian Coates, a school caretaker in his 60s, was one of the three victims killed in a series of violent attacks that shook Nottingham on Tuesday. He was stabbed to death near his workplace, Huntingdon Academy, where he was a site manager and a “much-loved colleague”. His van was then stolen by the attacker, who used it to run over three pedestrians in another location. The other two victims were Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar, both 19-year-old students at the University of Nottingham.
A tragic morning for Ian Coates
The attacks began around 4 a.m. on Tuesday, when police were called to Ilkeston Road, where they found the bodies of Webber and Kumar, who had been stabbed multiple times. The two students were studying engineering and psychology respectively, and were described by their families as “bright, talented and kind”. They had been dating for a few months and were planning to travel together after graduating.
About an hour and a half later, police received another report of a stabbing in Magdala Road, about two miles away from the first scene. There they found Coates, who had also been stabbed and died at the scene. Coates had been working at Huntingdon Academy for over 10 years, and was praised by his colleagues and students for his dedication and care. He was also a keen gardener and a fan of Nottingham Forest football club.
"Ian was a much-loved colleague who always went the extra mile for the benefit of our children."
— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 14, 2023
Ian Coates, the third victim of the Nottingham attacks, will be "greatly missed" by the school he worked at as a caretaker, their statement says.https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3
📺 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/QVUWn3HsLA
The attacker then stole Coates’ van and drove it to Milton Street, where he deliberately hit three pedestrians who were waiting at a bus stop. One of them, a 25-year-old woman, suffered life-threatening injuries and remains in critical condition at the hospital. The other two, a 28-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene.
Police managed to stop the van and arrest the suspect, a 31-year-old man whose identity has not been revealed yet. He was Tasered by officers before being taken into custody on suspicion of murder. He is currently being questioned by detectives.
A motiveless crime: Nottingham Attacks Details
The motive for the attacks is still unclear, as police have not found any link between the suspect and the victims. They have also ruled out any connection to terrorism or hate crime. Chief Superintendent Rob Griffin, who is leading the investigation, said: “This was an appalling series of incidents that have left three people dead and one fighting for her life. We are working hard to establish what led to this tragic chain of events and why it happened.”
He added: “We believe these were random attacks and that the victims were not known to each other or to the suspect. We are not looking for anyone else in connection with these incidents and we are not treating them as terrorism-related or motivated by hate.”
Griffin also thanked the public for their cooperation and support, and urged anyone with information or footage of the attacks to contact the police.
A city in shock
The attacks have shocked and saddened the city of Nottingham, which has seen an increase in knife crime in recent years. According to official statistics, there were 1,038 offences involving knives or sharp instruments in Nottinghamshire in the year ending March 2023, up from 892 in the previous year.
The mayor of Nottingham, Sally Longford, expressed her condolences to the families of the victims and praised the emergency services for their swift response. She said: “This is a devastating day for our city and our thoughts are with everyone affected by these horrific incidents. We are all shocked and saddened by what has happened and we stand together as a community in condemning this senseless violence.”
She added: “We are grateful to our police, ambulance and fire crews who have worked tirelessly throughout the night and morning to deal with this situation and keep us safe. We urge anyone who witnessed anything or has any information to come forward and help the police with their investigation.”
The University of Nottingham also issued a statement expressing its grief over the loss of two of its students and offering support to their friends and families. The vice-chancellor, Professor Shearer West, said: “We are deeply saddened by this terrible news and our thoughts are with the families and friends of Grace and Barnaby at this very difficult time. They were both bright, talented and kind young people who had so much to look forward to.”
He added: “We are providing counselling and pastoral care to anyone in our university community who has been affected by this tragedy. We are also working closely with the police and local authorities to assist them with their investigation.”
Huntingdon Academy, where Coates worked, also released a statement paying tribute to him and sending condolences to the other victims. The executive headmaster, Ross Middleton, said: “Ian was a much-loved colleague who always went the extra mile for the benefit of our children and will be greatly missed. As a school community, it will take time to process this deeply upsetting news.”
He added: “We wish to extend our sympathy and condolences to all those affected by yesterday’s tragic events.”
