NOTTINGHAM: A tragic incident in England's Nottingham has shocked the country, as three individuals were victims of a series of knife attacks. One of the victims was identified as 19-year-old Grace O'Malley Kumar, an Indian-origin medical student known for her talent in hockey and cricket. Grace and her friend, Barnaby Webber, also 19 and a cricketer, were reportedly fatally stabbed in the early hours of Tuesday by an unidentified attacker.
The suspect, a 31-year-old individual who is currently in custody, went on to stab a man in his 60s to death and attempted to run over three other people with a van stolen from the same man. The incident is not being treated as a terrorist attack at this stage, according to UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman. However, the police are being assisted by counter-terror police in their investigations.
The victims have not been formally named by the police, but local reports have provided some details about Grace Kumar. She is the daughter of Dr. Sanjoy Kumar, an Indian-origin doctor based in London who is being hailed as a hero for saving the lives of teenage stab victims in 2009. Grace was studying to become a doctor like her father and was a member of the England under-18s hockey team. She was also a talented cricketer, earning tributes from the governing bodies of both sports.
The University of Nottingham confirmed the deaths of two of its students in the incident and expressed deep shock and sadness. The university is providing support to the families and friends of the victims, as well as its staff and students. The police are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the attacks and are gathering evidence with the assistance of a dedicated team of detectives.
The devastating loss of Grace Kumar, who was described as a wonderful and beautiful young lady, has left her family, friends, and the sports community in mourning. She will be remembered for her achievements, resilience, and kind-hearted nature. England Hockey and Woodford Wells Cricket Club paid tribute to Grace, highlighting her talent, competitiveness, and dedication.
The country is united in grief over this tragic incident, and Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, and other government officials expressed condolences to the victims' families and gratitude to the emergency services for their response. As the investigation continues, Nottinghamshire Police are keeping an open mind regarding the motives behind the attacks, while counter-terror police assist in gathering information.
“We are keeping an ‘open mind’ and are working alongside Counter Terrorism Policing to establish the facts – as we would normally do in these types of circumstances,” Kate Meynell, Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police, said in a statement.
“A dedicated team of detectives is investigating the circumstances surrounding these incidents and will continue to gather evidence over the coming days,” she said.
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