Marked police car followed Nottingham suspect before attack

Nottinghamshire Police officers have reported themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct

Flowers and messages on Magdala Road in Nottingham, where school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, was found fatally stabbed. PA

Police officers tailed a vehicle being driven by the suspect in the Nottingham attack in which three people were killed, the force revealed on Thursday.

Two University of Nottingham students – Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber – and caretaker Ian Coates were stabbed to death this week. A fourth person was seriously injured after the van was driven at him.

Detectives have been granted an extra 36 hours to question the suspect – a former University of Nottingham student – over the deaths.

But Nottinghamshire Police have also reported themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct watchdog.

A minute's silence was held at a vigil on Thursday evening – the second night that the city has come together to remember those killed.

Sons of Mr Coates, wearing Nottingham Forest football shirts, promised to support the other families caught up in the tragedy.

“It feels like he [dad] has touched a lot of hearts over the years, more than what we assumed and knew that he had, so it's been really nice and heartwarming to see the messages and people come out and talk about how he was when they were younger and how he's helped them,” said the Ian Coates Jr.

Emma Webber managed to joke about her son, including his sibling rivalry with his brother.

“He was obsessed with aeroplanes and he still carried a dream of being a pilot in the RAF one day.”

She asked those gathered at the vigil to “hold no hate”.

Ms O'Malley-Kumar's mother could be seen embracing Ms Webber.

“She wanted very few things in life: she wanted to be a doctor, she wanted to play hockey with her pals, she wanted to have fun,” Sinead O'Malley-Kumar said, pausing as her voice broke.

“All they were doing was walking home.”

Shujahat Aslam, chairman of the Nottingham Council of Mosques, said: “It hurts so much as a parent whose kids go to university as well that we weren't able to look after their kids as our kids are looked after.”

Mr Coates, 65, was found dead in the city’s Magdala Road and his van was allegedly stolen by the suspect.

Officers used a Taser on the 31-year-old suspect and he was arrested on suspicion of murder at 5.30am on Tuesday when the van was eventually stopped, police said.

Police said the suspect is a former University of Nottingham student, although officers do not believe that to be connected with the attack.

The suspect is believed to have made his way to a supported living complex after the attack on the students but was denied entry, an incident which had not been reported to police at the time.

He then allegedly continued on foot to Magdala Road where Mr Coates was killed and had his van stolen. The van then struck another two pedestrians in nearby Sherwood Street.

A spokesman for the Independent Office for Police Conduct said: “We received a referral from Nottinghamshire Police on Wednesday informing us that a marked police car had been following behind the suspect's van for a short distance at the time it collided with two pedestrians in the area of Sherwood Street in the city centre on Tuesday morning.

“We are assessing the referral to decide what further action may be required of the IOPC.”

Home Secretary Suella Braverman visited the city to pay her respects. She read messages and looked at flowers, teddy bears and cricket balls left as tributes in Market Square.

She also laid a wreath with the handwritten message: “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.”