Hockey player Grace Kumar named as Nottingham victim

A talented hockey player has been named as one of the three victims who were stabbed to death in a brutal Nottingham attack.

Grace Kumar, 19, was making her name as a hockey star by playing at London’s Southgate Hockey team and having played for the Old Loughtonians in Chigwell and England U18.

However the student was killed along with another 19-year-old student – Barnaby Webber- and a man in his 50s on Tuesday (June 13).

The two students were fatally knifed in lkeston Road, a student area of Nottingham, at about 4am.

A crime scene in place in Nottingham after three were killed (Image: PA)

Later the body of the man in his 50s was found a bit further away with stab wounds in Magdala Road.

Police have said it is believed the attacker then stole the older man’s van before driving it at pedestrians in Milton Street.

The vehicle was stopped by officers in Maple Street before the suspect was tasered and detained, Ms Meynell said.

Three people were injured in the van attack, with one in a critical condition in hospital and two suffering minor injuries.

Governing body England Hockey paid their respects to the news of Grace’s death, describing her as a “popular member” of the England under-16 and under018 squads.

The message read: “Our thoughts are with Grace’s family, friends, teammates and the whole hockey community at this time.”

We are all deeply saddened by the news of the tragic death of Grace Kumar in Nottingham on Tuesday.

Grace was a popular member of the England U16 and U18 squads and our thoughts are with Grace’s family, friends, teammates and the whole hockey community at this time.

— England Hockey (@EnglandHockey) June 14, 2023

Chief Constable Kate Meynell told reporters the force were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incidents and no further arrests had been made.

The police chief said the motive behind the attack was yet to be determined, but officers were keeping an “open mind” and working with counter-terror police.

GB News reported the suspect was a west African migrant.

Ms Meynell said the families of all the victims had been informed and were being supported by specially-trained officers.

A vigil took place in Nottingham to pay respect to the three that died (Image: PA)

A vigil at Nottingham’s St Peter’s Church, in the city centre, was attended by hundreds of people paying their respects to those who died and those injured.

During the service, attended by mainly students from both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, those present were invited to place flowers below the altar or light a candle.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said “we’re in a very early stage of the investigation” when asked whether the attack could have been terror-related.

She told broadcasters in Westminster: “We need to allow the police the time and the space to carry out all of their operational activity to determine the motive.

“It’s right that Nottinghamshire Police are working with Counter Terrorism Policing. But it’s also fair to say that everybody and all professionals on the front line are keeping an open mind as to what the precise motive might have been.”