Brave teenage brothers of murdered Nottingham students leave mourners in tears

The younger brother of one of the 19-year-old students killed in the Nottingham attacks on Tuesday spoke to thousands in the city centre on Thursday as he overcame tears to ask them to ‘cherish every moment’ with their loved ones.

The city of Nottingham came together in mourning after Home Secretary Suella Braverman cut a somber figure as she laid a wreath to the victims of the Nottingham knife rampage.

Students Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby (Barney) Webber and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, were all stabbed to death in the early hours of Tuesday.

Grace’s younger brother James battled through tears to pay tribute to his sister, saying: ‘Grace wasn’t only just a sister to me, she was a best friend of mine, my mother, my father, all her friends and all her family.

‘If there’s only one message that comes out of this, I urge you all to cherish every moment you spend with your loved ones as you just never know when it will end.’

It came at the height of an emotionally charged service which saw family members address a vigil alongside local politicians and faith leaders.

Barney’s mother Emma Webber described the attacker who killed the two students as ‘evil’, but added he was ‘just a person’ as she begged the public not to level hate at ‘any colour, religion or gender’.

Ian Coates’ sons also paid an emotional tribute, saying he ‘loved his family’.

Grace’s mother, Sinead O’Malley-Kumar said: ‘My beautiful baby girl, she wasn’t just beautiful on the outside, you must have seen her pictures, she was so beautiful on the inside. She was a treasure, an adored child.

‘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.’

She continued: ‘All they were doing was walking home, were just walking home after a night-out and, like Emma Webber says, this person must face justice.

‘It just is truly so unfair but I’ll echo what my husband said yesterday – be kind to each other, look after each other, don’t have hate in your hearts. Say prayers for my baby girl.’

She added that neither her daughter nor Barnaby Webber were from Nottingham, and that the city was not the only place grieving.

‘The magnitude of the grief reflects the magnitude of the love,’ she said. ‘The love we had for her.’

Her father Sanjoy added: ‘We were four and we are now three. And the same for Barney’s family. They also were four, and they’re now three.

‘I speak as a brokenhearted father. I loved my Grace more than I loved anything and I’m trying to be as strong as I can.

‘There are people in hospital as well who were injured in the attacks and as families our thoughts are with them as well. I wish them a speedy recovery.

‘I’d like to thank the uniformed services who also do a great job.’

He said Grace ‘absolutely adored her friends and family’ and had a great ‘love of Nottingham’.

‘She had so many good friends and such great memories. She was so looking forward to coming back for her second year, and she would have been the junior doctor serving you in your hospital. And that’s been taken from us.

‘Imagine a world of love and no violence. Just imagine that world. Thank you.’

Barnaby’s mother, Emma Webber, told those assembled: ‘Barnaby is more than a victim of a senseless murder.

‘He was obsessed with airplanes and he still carried the dream of being a pilot in the RAF one day. I’m not sure really how a degree in Nottingham was a part of that plan, but maybe he planned to fly Spitfires.’

Many gathered in Nottingham city centre could be seen with tears in their eyes as Barnaby Webber’s mother said he was ‘so proud’ of his brother.

‘He has been taken away from his young brother Charlie who, despite being three years and eight months younger than him, is considerably taller.

‘Barnaby pretended to be cool with this but he really wasn’t. He hated it. Despite the ribbing, the play-fighting and the occasional competitiveness, he so adored you and he was so proud of you.’

His father, David Webber, placed his hand on his his wife’s shoulder throughout the entire speech and the crowd cheered loudly as she invited them to give a big round of applause for all those affected by the attacks.

She said: ‘Nottingham, he really loved you. He really really loved you… When he was accepted on his place to study here in August of last year he was so b****y chuffed.

‘He loved reading history but actually I think he loved being part of the cricket team more. To his teammates, we thank you for all you have done to remember him.’

Struggling through tears, Ms Webber continued: ‘So today we stand here and we hear your love and we are united in fear and shock and disbelief. One day we will smile again, but it will take time.

She added: ‘The monstrous individual who has shattered our lives will not define us, and I know he will receive the retribution he deserves.

‘But this evil person is just that, he is just a person. Please hold no hate towards any colour, sex or religion.

‘And so my beautiful boy you have mine, your father’s and your brother’s hearts forever.’

Ian Coates’ son James promised support to the families of Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber as they paid tribute to their father at the vigil.

They wore Nottingham Forest shirts with ‘RIP Dad’ printed on the back.

Addressing the families, he said: ‘Obviously they are going through the same thing that we are, anything they need from us we’re happy to support you.’

He thanked everybody for the ‘kind words’ that have poured in about his father.

‘It feels like he’s 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,’ he went on.

‘Some beautiful comments. We just wanted to say a quick thing that we’re still dealing with what’s happened, we still haven’t took it all in, so we just wanted to say a few things.

‘Dad was an avid fisherman, he loved his family and he also loved his Forest. You Reds.’

Thousands of people gathered in the city centre as council leader David Mellen addressed the crowds and thanked those who rushed to help the victims of Tuesday morning’s knife and van attacks.

The families of Grace O’Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber and Ian Coates were all sat in front of Nottingham Council House as many stood and watched on in the Thursday afternoon sunshine.

Opening proceedings he told the relatives of all the victims: ‘The attack on you is an attack on us all.’

He continued: ‘We must not allow fear to grip our streets and be the dominant emotion here.’

Headteacher of Huntingdon Academy Ross Middleton, where Nottingham attack victim Ian Coates was site manager, said the 65-year-old was ‘proud’ of his grandson.

Paying tribute to the caretaker, Mr Middleton said he was ‘full of fun with a mischievous glint in his eye’.

He said: ‘His time, commitment and caring nature endeared him to the whole school community and we all will remember him with great affection.’

‘Rest in peace Ian, and, of course, I’ll keep an eye on Forest results for you.’

He added he would ‘keep an eye out’ for Nottingham Forest football results.

Professor Shearer West, vice chancellor of the University of Nottingham, said the university was still ‘trying to process the information’ that the suspect was a former student.

Speaking at a vigil in Nottingham’s Old Market Square, she said: ‘Today we are together united in our shock and our grief to remember all those who lost their lives or were injured in Tuesday’s attacks.

‘All three of these lives were cut short in the most unimaginable way on Tuesday morning.

‘Their well-earned retirement plans and bright futures brutally curtailed by a seemingly random act of violence.

‘At the university, we held our own vigil yesterday with Barney and Grace’s families to remember them and mourn their loss.

‘I was overwhelmed by the love and support that was offered to the families by more than 2,000 students and staff who gathered together as a community.

‘Although seemingly unconnected to these dreadful acts, we are still in the university trying to process the information that the suspect in custody was a former student.’

Crowds at Thursday afternoon’s vigil stretched back around half a kilometre from the Council House in Nottingham.

Reverend Grant Walton from the University of Nottingham described the three deaths in the city’s attacks as a ‘traumatic, violent and needless loss’.

Nottingham North MP Alex Norris then took to the stage and said ‘we must all be there’ for the families of the victims as he spoke on behalf of Nottingham’s other MPs, Nadia Whittome and Lilian Greenwood.

‘We are united in our grief, sadness and shock. But love wins. It always wins.’

Nottinghamshire Police & Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry spoke about the dedicated response of the emergency services and the atmosphere of love and care at Wednesday’s university vigil.

Speaking at a vigil in Nottingham’s Old Market Square, Ms Henry said the city is renowned for its ‘welcoming, friendly and warm’ people before adding: ‘It was particularly poignant when I attended an attestation of university students on Tuesday night this week. It was at our headquarters.

‘Seven budding volunteer special police constables pledged to join and serve Nottinghamshire police, and actually they couldn’t wait to join our force and to serve the public in the coming days.

‘It’s really important at times like this we come together as a city and the vigils held across Nottingham show that community is united.’

She said everyone at the vigil on Wednesday night at the university stood so silent ‘you could hear a pin drop’.

‘Last night the only noise that punctuated the sound of silence was a police siren sounding in the distance as our hard-working, professional police team still continue to deliver their round-the-clock public service to keep people safe.’

She continued: ‘My message to the public now is to have faith in the fantastic Nottinghamshire Police force, and to have patience.

‘We’ve talked a lot about love tonight, it is so important.

‘There is no place for hate in the healing process. It is important that we remain united and come back stronger from this tragedy as Nottingham together.’

The crowds were then invited to introduce themselves to those around them ahead of a minute of silence at 6pm.

The people of Nottingham stood in respectful silence, many holding hands or embracing one another, in tribute to the three people who lost their lives.

Heart-shaped balloons with the words ‘choose love’ were held by one woman near the stage.

After the silence, various faith leaders from around the city spoke and paid their respects to those affected by Tuesday morning’s tragic events, before the victims’ families took to the stage.

It ended with a musical item from University of Nottingham students.

In the crowd, parents held their children in their arms, some held flowers and many used tissues to wipe away tears as the seven students sang to the thousands in attendance.

Ms Braverman was earlier accompanied by Nottinghamshire Police & Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry as they arrived on the steps of Nottingham Council House ahead of a vigil for the three victims of Tuesday’s attack this evening.

Nottingham University students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, were killed in the horrific rampage, alongside school caretaker Ian Coates, 65.

Three others were injured when the knifeman, believed to be Nottingham University graduate Valdo Calocane, 31, drove into them.

Braverman spent a few minutes reading messages and looking at the flowers, teddy bears and cricket balls left in the city’s Market Square after her arrival on Thursday afternoon.

Dressed in black, the Home Secretary also laid a wreath among the tributes, with a hand-written message which read: ‘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.’

Last night, the families of Barnaby and Grace attended a vigil held on the Nottingham University campus.

In heartbreaking scenes, Emma Webber hugged Grace’s father, Dr Sanjoy Kumar, and Sinead O’Malley held David Webber’s hand as they gave an extraordinary message of hope to the thousands in attendance and urged them to ‘look after each other.’

The fathers then stood side-by-side to address the thousands who had turned up.

Tears flowed as Dr Kumar spoke about how the two friends ‘fell together’ and urged the students gathered before him to ‘look after each other’, adding: ‘The love that we have out here, I just wish we had it everywhere. Love everyone’.

Next to him, Barnaby’s father David, who calls his son Barney, told the crowd that he couldn’t comprehend that he had lost ‘my baby boy’ – or how they would ever come to terms with it – and told his son’s many friends that ‘his heart will be with you guys forever.’

Speaking through tears, Mr Webber said: ‘I’ve lost my baby boy, and I can’t even comprehend how I’m going to deal with it… myself and Emma and Charlie and his family and friends.

‘Well I know Barney would be super touched by everyone that’s here.

‘He loved it. He loved it here. He couldn’t wait to come back. It drove me mad. His heart will be with you guys forever and thank you so much. I really can’t talk much more.’

Tributes to the students, both talented athletes, have poured in since they were stabbed to death as they walked home from a night out in Nottingham just after 4am on Tuesday, as well as the third victim of the violence, primary school caretaker Ian Coates, who was also remembered at the event.

It comes as it was revealed that the man who allegedly murdered them was named as a 31-year-old University of Nottingham engineering graduate.

Valdo Calocane, who is understood to be from West Africa, graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering last summer, according to a pamphlet about the ceremony published online.

He was arrested at 5.40am on Tuesday and remains in custody.

Today, Nottinghamshire Police confirmed the man being held was a former University of Nottingham student but said: ‘At this time, it is not believed to be connected with the attack.’

The force has said the man they have in custody is the same person seen walking into a supported living complex in Mapperley Road.

CCTV showed black-clad man arrived at the property Seely Hirst House at 5am on Tuesday – around half an hour before his arrest.

He can be seen trying to climb into an open ground-floor window, before resident Trevor Proverbs, 59, punches him in the face to get him off the window ledge.

Calocane, who has not yet been named, turned up at MI5’s headquarters in London in August, the Sun reports.

He was allegedly ‘moved on’ by security personnel after his name was logged, following him demanding to be let in the building.

He was allegedly ‘moved on’ by security personnel after his name was logged, following his demand to be let in the building.

A security source told The Sun: ‘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 suspect had reportedly been living in the UK legally for ten years and had a history of mental health issues.

The Home Office declined to comment on the allegations when contacted by MailOnline.