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THE suspect arrested over the horrific knife and van rampage that left three people dead was an ex-University of Nottingham student, it can be revealed.

It comes as cops were given more time to question Valdo Calocane, 31, who was arrested on Tuesday after a horror rampage left Barnaby WebberGrace Kumar and Ian Coates dead on the city's streets.

New CCTV footage shows the man handcuffed and taken away by cops nearby a white van
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CCTV footage shows the man handcuffed and taken away by cops nearby a white van
Police arrested a man on suspicion of murder after three people found dead
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Police arrested a man on suspicion of murder after three people found deadCredit: Twitter
A man matching the suspect's description was caught on CCTV trying to get into a homeless shelter near the attacks at 4am Tuesday
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A man matching the suspect's description was caught on CCTV trying to get into a homeless shelter near the attacks at 4am TuesdayCredit: The Sun

Calocane, believed to be of West African origin, was Tasered and cuffed after allegedly running at cops with a knife on Maples Street in the city at 5.30am.

The attacker used a van to try to run over a man in the Milton Street area, who remains in a critical condition, and two other pedestrians on Sherwood Street.

The man has been named as Leeds United fan Wayne Birkett, 58, who was struck while on his way to work at a factory by Nottingham station.

Some 90 minutes earlier, at 4am, Barney was stabbed multiple times on Ilkeston Road, 300 yards from his halls, while walking home from a nightclub with Grace.

Grace screamed for help but was then attacked and also died as the knifeman fled the scene, according to witnesses.

The suspect remains in police custody after an extension to the normal 24-hour hold time was granted.

He will now be held for questioning for as long as four days, but is not believed to be cooperating with police.

PROBE

Nottinghamshire Police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after admitting "a marked police car followed behind the suspect’s van for a short distance before it collided with the two pedestrians".

The force was granted an extension to keep the suspect in custody for another 36 hours at around 3.15pm yesterday.

Meanwhile the University of Nottingham has said it is "devastated" the suspect in the city's deadly rampage was a former student.

A spokesman added: "We are devastated that the suspect is a former University of Nottingham student.

"The police have confirmed that this is not believed to be connected with the attack.

"Our focus remains on supporting the family and friends of Barney and Grace and our wider community.

"You will understand that we are unable to comment on a live investigation, however we will continue to support the police in any way we can."

Cops have since released a timeline of events after speaking to witnesses and reviewing CCTV footage.

Terrified bystanders dialled 999 at 4.04am on Tuesday as the bodies of the two students were found.

Meanwhile, at 4.08am a man who matched the description of the suspect, was captured on CCTV trying to break into a homeless shelter four miles away on Mapperley Road.

He failed after a resident punched him as he tried to climb through an open window on the ground floor.

Mr Coates' body was found just yards away at 5.30am, after his van was used to ram into three people at a bus stop on Milton Street in the city centre.

And officers are now trying to piece together what happened in the hour between the horrific events.

They think the knifeman dragged Mr Coates, 65, out of the van before fatally stabbing him and jumping in the driver's seat.

Chief Constable Kate Meynell, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "A man in his 50s was also found dead from knife injuries by a member of the public.

"We believe the suspect stole this man's van, drove it to Milton street and at members of the public. We are working to investigate the motive behind the attack."

Ian's son Lee Coates has said “I’m broken” and that he is “still in shock” after learning his dad was the third victim.

MENTAL HEALTH

The suspect is suspected to have a history of mental health problems, but who was legally living in the UK, according to .

He does not have a criminal record, but was known to MI5 because he knocked on its door asking for help.

A witness to the first killings told the BBC: “I had the window open and I just heard some awful, blood-curdling screams."

The two students were murdered five minutes from home after walking back from an end-of-term party at the city’s Pryzm club.

They were sports-mad first-year undergraduates at the University of Nottingham.

Barnaby and Grace's dads fought back tears at a vigil last night as they told a "sea" of devastated pupils to "look after each other".

Barnaby's dad David and Grace's father Dr Sanjoy thanked everyone for paying tribute at the vigil at the University of Nottingham.

Grace’s tearful mum Sinead was comforted by Barnaby’s mother Emma as the heartbreaking vigil went on.

Barnaby's devastated family have described their “complete devastation” at the “senseless murder of our son”.

His parents David and Emma Webber added that he was a “beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to”.

Barney, who has a younger brother Charles, was a talented hockey player and celebrated winning the under-14  county championship with schoolmates in 2018.

Grace played hockey for Southgate in London and had made it into the England squad for her age group.

She was following in her dad Dr Sanjoy Kumar's footsteps and studying to be a doctor at the university.

Dr Sanjoy saved victims of a gang stabbing in Chingford, Essex, in 2009.

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He helped move three knifed teens, aged 15, 16 and 17 to a makeshift trauma room in his surgery before 999 crews arrived.

On Monday, hundreds of students went to Pryzm for its Quids In! Imma Student Get Me Out Of Here night until 4am.

Barnaby Webber was one of the three victims of the horror attack in Nottingham
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Barnaby Webber was one of the three victims of the horror attack in NottinghamCredit: SWNS
Grace Kumar, 19, has been named as the pal who died alongside Barnaby
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Grace Kumar, 19, has been named as the pal who died alongside BarnabyCredit: SWNS
Grace is pictured with her dad Dr Sanjoy, mum Sinead and brother James
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Grace is pictured with her dad Dr Sanjoy, mum Sinead and brother JamesCredit: SWNS
Ian Coates, a school caretaker, has been named as the third victim
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Ian Coates, a school caretaker, has been named as the third victimCredit: Huntingdon Academy
Grace Kumar’s dad Dr Sanjoy Kumar and Barnaby’s brother, Charlie, embrace
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Grace Kumar’s dad Dr Sanjoy Kumar and Barnaby’s brother, Charlie, embraceCredit: PA
The families of both victims attended the University of Nottingham
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The families of both victims attended the University of NottinghamCredit: LNP
The attack took place in the city early yesterday morning
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Southgate Hockey Club posted pictures of Grace along with a tribute
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Southgate Hockey Club posted pictures of Grace along with a tributeCredit: facebook/southgatehc
Woodford Wells Cricket Club shared pictures of a young Grace
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Woodford Wells Cricket Club shared pictures of a young GraceCredit: twitter/woodfordwellscc
Barnaby was an eager cricketer
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Barnaby was an eager cricketer
Grace was a University of Nottingham student
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Grace was a University of Nottingham student
Devastated students gathered for a vigil on Tuesday evening
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Devastated students gathered for a vigil on Tuesday eveningCredit: Getty
Flowered were laid at the church for the vigil on Tuesday
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Flowered were laid at the church for the vigil on TuesdayCredit: PA
A van was seen with a cracked window after the horror
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A van was seen with a cracked window after the horrorCredit: Reuters
The man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Maples Street
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The man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Maples StreetCredit: PA
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