3 stabbed to death, 3 more run over with van by man 'dressed all in black' in early-morning UK attack

A 31-year-old West African man was arrested on suspicion of murder in Nottingham, England, where three people were found stabbed to death. The suspect allegedly stole a man's van and drove into three people waiting at a bus stop as well, according to the BBC.

The man is not a British citizen but reportedly has settled status in England, which means he has permission to stay in the country for several years. The suspect's name has not been released, but authorities said he did not have a criminal record but has a history of mental health issues.

Two 19-year-old students were found stabbed to death west of Nottingham's city center just after 4:00 a.m. local time. Then about an hour later, a man in his 50s was also found stabbed to death approximately two miles away. The suspect allegedly stole the older man's van before he drove to the city center, where he reportedly slammed into three people who were waiting at a bus stop, at around 5:30 a.m..

Police said they stopped the van, then tasered and arrested the driver. All three victims of the van attack were taken to hospital.

U.K. outlet the Sun has released what is purported to be video of the killer trying to break into a hostel, recorded after he allegedly stabbed the two students.

A witness said he saw the 4:00 a.m. stabbing of the two students. The man said that he looked out of his window to see a "guy dressed all in black with a hood and rucksack grappling with some people. It was a girl, and a man or boy she was with — they looked quite young."

"She was screaming 'help!' I just wish I'd shouted something out of the window to unnerve the assailant," the man continued. "I saw him stab the lad first and then the woman. It was repeated stabbing — four or five times. The lad collapsed in the middle of the road."

A witness to the van attack said she saw the man look in his mirror and spot a police car behind him before he "quickened up" and drove "straight into" the victims. "The woman went on the kerb and the man went up in the air," she said. "It was such a bang — I wish I never saw it — it's really shaken me up."

"I went over. Perhaps I shouldn't have gone over, but I wanted to see if I could help," the witness added.

Police said that they were keeping an "open mind" about the motive behind the attacks and have been working with counter-terrorism police. However, authorities stated that they are not looking for any other suspect in relation to the killings.

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