It has been revealed that the 31-year-old suspect in the deadly Nottingham knife and van attacks was known to MI5.
The Sun Newspaper reports that the suspect, who remains unnamed, turned up to the London Headquarters of the UK’s domestic counter-intelligence and security agency demanding to be let into the building last August.
He was allegedly “moved on” by security personnel after they logged his name during the incident.
The Sun reports that a security source said: “He turned up one day and literally started banging on the door. He was moved on and logged.
“This happens from time to time.”
The newspaper said it understood that his name then came up when detectives were searching for information in the wake of the chilling murders in the early hours of Tuesday morning. On Thursday, police also confirmed that the man was a former student at the University of Nottingham – something which they said was not connected to the attack.
The 31-year-old suspect, who is originally from West Africa and allegedly had “settled” status in the UK, remains in police custody today, with officers having been granted more time to question him. It is believed he arrived in England as a teenager and had a history of petty drug dealing — but no criminal record. The Telegraph reported that he was described by his neighbours as a “very quiet guy”.
There are also unconfirmed reports that the suspect had converted to Islam and had started attending an Islamic centre close to the scene of the murders.
Officers arrested the man at 5:40am on Tuesday on suspicion of murder following the cold-blooded murders of “bright and brilliant” students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, who died alongside “beloved” school caretaker, Ian Coates, 65.
It is understood that Nottinghamshire Police were granted an extension to keep the suspect in custody for up to 96 hours on Wednesday afternoon at around 3:15pm, following an appeal for the extension through the magistrates’ court.
The Home Office declined to comment on the allegations on the suspect’s links to MI5, multiple UK media outlets reported.
It came as more details emerged about the murder suspect’s attempts to gain entry to a hostel at around 5am on Tuesday. Disturbing CCTV footage shared online showed the man attempting to climb into the property through its ground window, before 59-year-old resident, Trevor Proverb, punched the man in the face to knock him from the window ledge.
Mr Proverb, a retired truck driver, has opened up about his chilling encounter with the attacker, telling the Daily Mail, “I could have been his next victim”.
Mr Proverb was watching television because he couldn’t sleep when he saw the hooded man peering through the window.
Recalling the moment, he said: “There was a guy all in black looking through the window. I thought he was a burglar at first so I shouted at him to f**k off.
“But he actually jumped up on the ledge and opened the top window as though he was going to try and come in”.
The man said he got off his chair and punched him in the face, “why forced him down off the ledge”.
“He looked up and walked around for a bit but left.” he added.
Mr Proverb said that the most “disconcerting” thing about the whole ordeal was the fact that throughout his encounter with the suspect, the man was totally silent.
“Throughout it all, he never said a word. He was silent, even when I hit him. That’s what I think was the most disconcerting thing”.
Terrifying CCTV footage obtained by The Sun captures the suspect walking away from the property following the encounter, but returning moments later and trying to smash the window. When the glass would not crack, he left.
He was then able to flag down van driver Mr Coates, who was fatally stabbed by the suspect, before mowing into three pedestrians, one of whom is in a “serious” condition in hospital as of Thursday.
His spree of terror finally came to an end when police arrived with tasers at around 5:30am.
Mr Proverb said knowing that a man was stabbed to death so nearby by the suspect was “chilling,” adding that he felt he could have killed more had he been able to access the hostel.
“It’s shocked me,” he said. “I could have been his next victim. Had he got into the hostel, I think there may have been multiple victims. It doesn’t bear thinking about”.
Nottinghamshire Police confirmed that a man matching the description of the suspect attempted to gain entry to the supported living complex on Mapperley Road in the city.
Meanwhile, the devastated fathers of teenage victims Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley Kumar spoke at a Vigil for those killed in the tragedy. The men were filmed embracing in heart-breaking scenes, as they encouraged people to “look out for each-other,” leading internet users to praise their “dignity and courage” at an unthinkable time.
'Look after each other,' says the father of killed student Grace O'Malley-Kumar.
The fathers of Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley Kumar – David Webber and Sanjoy Kumar – spoke to those attending the vigil.
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— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 14, 2023