Home Secretary Suella Braverman pens message to Nottingham victims

2023-06-15

‘We are with you and with all the people of Nottingham’: Home Secretary Suella Braverman pens personal message to rampage victims as she lays floral tribute ahead of tonight’s vigil

Home Secretary Suella Braverman laid wreaths for Nottingham victims
She also left a message for them ahead of a vigil in the city this evening

Home Secretary Suella Braverman cut a somber figure as she laid a wreath to the victims of the Nottingham knife rampage today.

Braverman, 43, and Nottinghamshire Police & Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry laid wreaths on the steps of Nottingham Council House ahead of a vigil for the three victims of Tuesday’s attack this evening.

Nottingham University students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, were killed in the horrific rampage, alongside school caretaker Ian Coates, 65.

Three others were injured when the knifeman, believed to be Nottingham University graduate Valdo Calocane, 31, drove into them.

Braverman spent a few minutes reading messages and looking at the flowers, teddy bears and cricket balls left in the city’s Market Square after her arrival on Thursday afternoon.

Dressed in black, the Home Secretary also laid a wreath among the tributes, with a hand-written message which read: ‘In memory of those who lost their lives, those who were injured and everyone who loves them.

‘We are with you and with all the people of Nottingham.’

Braverman spent a few minutes reading messages and looking at the flowers, teddy bears and cricket balls left in the city’s Market Square after her arrival on Thursday afternoon

A vigil will be held in the same square at 6pm this evening.

Last night, the families of Barnaby and Grace attended a vigil held on the Nottingham University campus.

In heartbreaking scenes, Emma Webber hugged Grace’s father, Dr Sanjoy Kumar, and Sinead O’Malley held David Webber’s hand as they gave an extraordinary message of hope to the thousands in attendance and urged them to ‘look after each other.’

The fathers then stood side-by-side to address the thousands who had turned up.

Tears flowed as Dr Kumar spoke about how the two friends ‘fell together’ and urged the students gathered before him to ‘look after each other’, adding: ‘The love that we have out here, I just wish we had it everywhere. Love everyone’.

Next to him, Barnaby’s father David, who calls his son Barney, told the crowd that he couldn’t comprehend that he had lost ‘my baby boy’ – or how they would ever come to terms with it – and told his son’s many friends that ‘his heart will be with you guys forever.’

David and Emma Webber sported shades as they visited Nottingham University to read the messages

Parents of Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar and students hold a vigil at Nottingham University

The mothers grieve together – Barnaby’s mum Emma Webber pictured hugging Grace’s mother Sinead O’Malley

Barnaby Webber, a gifted cricketer who was in his first year of university, was one of two students killed in the early hours of Tuesday morning

Friend and youth England hockey star Grace O’Malley-Kumar was stabbed to death alongside her friend

Mr Coates worked at Huntington Academy, a primary school in the city, and was described this morning as a ‘beloved and respected’ member of staff

Speaking through tears, Mr Webber said: ‘I’ve lost my baby boy, and I can’t even comprehend how I’m going to deal with it… myself and Emma and Charlie and his family and friends.

‘Well I know Barney would be super touched by everyone that’s here.

‘He loved it. He loved it here. He couldn’t wait to come back. It drove me mad. His heart will be with you guys forever and thank you so much. I really can’t talk much more.’

Tributes to the students, both talented athletes, have poured in since they were stabbed to death as they walked home from a night out in Nottingham just after 4am on Tuesday, as well as the third victim of the violence, primary school caretaker Ian Coates, who was also remembered at the event.

It comes as it was revealed that the man who allegedly murdered them was named as a 31-year-old University of Nottingham engineering graduate.

Valdo Calocane, who is understood to be from West Africa, graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering last summer, according to a pamphlet about the ceremony published online.

He was arrested at 5.40am on Tuesday and remains in custody.

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