Haunting CCTV footage shows a man allegedly trying to break into a residential care home less than half a mile away from where one of the Nottingham attack victims was found dead. The incident happened on in Mapperley Road, less than half a mile away from where Ian Coates was found dead.
Huntingdon Academy caretaker Mr Coates, one of the three victims, was found with knife wounds on Magdala Road, Mapperley Park, NottinghamshireLive reports.
Footage has since emerged of a man apparently looking for a way into Seely Hirst House on Mapperley Road, which provides accommodation for vulnerable and homeless people in the city. Witnesses said the man was seen trying to climb in an open window.
A resident reportedly woke up and punched him, sending him stumbling back to the ground, before he made off. A resident told the Telegraph: “He tried to get into my ground floor room, through the window.”
They also told Sky News: "Thank God I woke up as I might have been dead."
Police have said a man matching the description of the suspect alleged to have killed three people in the Nottingham attacks was reported to have tried to force entry into a care home. The alleged care home break-in came shortly after two University of Nottingham students were stabbed to death in Ilkeston Road, Radford.
Mr Coates was later found dead and with knife injuries half a mile from Mapperley Road, on Magdala Road. It is alleged Mr Coates was attacked, and that he had his van stolen.
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The van was allegedly used by the suspect in attempt to run over three members of the public in the Milton Street area, in Nottingham city centre. One man is in hospital in a critical condition while others are believed to have suffered minor injuries. A short while later, police managed to detain the suspect by using a Taser when he allegedly abandoned the vehicle and approached officers with a knife.
The families of Mr Coates - and those of 19-year-old University of Nottingham students Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar, who were found fatally stabbed in Ilkeston Road, Radford - are being supported by specially trained officers. Detectives are still keeping an open mind on the motives of the attacks on Mr Coates, Mr Webber and Ms Kumar.
A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the three deaths and van incident on Milton Street. He remains in police custody.
Nottinghamshire Police have also confirmed that the force is still working alongside Counter Terrorism Policing in relation to the Nottingham attacks. There have also been reports that other calls were made to Nottinghamshire Police before the Ilkeston Road knife attacks which the force confirmed is not the case.
