POLICE said a man had been arrested on suspicion of murder after three people were found dead on the street in the central English city of Nottingham and three others were in hospital after an attempt to run them over with a van.
Police said two people had been found dead on one road in the centre of the city just after 4am (0300 GMT) before officers were alerted to another incident not far away where someone driving a van had tried to run over three people.
They are being treated in hospital.
Another man was also found dead in a road just outside the city centre.
Police say they were called to Ilkeston Road in the city where two people were found dead
Prime mInister Rishi Sunak has thanked police and emergency services for their continuing response to what is happening in Nottingham.
“I am being kept updated on developments. The police must be given the time to undertake their work. My thoughts are with those injured, and the family and loved ones of those who have lost their lives,” Sunak said.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said that he wants to send his “thoughts to all those affected and to the emergency services who are responding” to the incident in Nottingham.
“This is an horrific and tragic incident which has claimed the lives of three people,” chief constable Kate Meynell said.
“We believe these three incidents are all linked and we have a man in custody. This investigation is at its early stages and a team of detectives is working to establish exactly what has happened.”
A 31-year-old was arrested on suspicion of murder and was in police custody.
Several roads were closed and the Nottingham tram network was suspended. Members of the emergency services were visible across the city.
Meynell said roads would remain closed while the investigation continued.
“Awful news for our city to wake up to today,” Alex Norris, a lawmaker for Nottingham, said on Twitter. “Our community’s thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.”
According to a BBC report, the Nottinghamshire Police has set up a dedicated phone line and is appealing for witnesses.
In a tweet, it asked anyone who has information on this morning’s incident to call 0800 0961011.
Anyone concerned about a family member or friend should also call that number, police say.
(With inputs from Reuters)
