Nottingham attacks: 'The darkest day I can ever remember in our city'

Political and civic leaders met at a small dignified ceremony today, to mark the first anniversary of the Nottingham attacks.

Nottingham MPs Lilian Greenwood and Nadia Whitthome were joined by new City Council leader Neghat Khan, newly-elected Mayor for the East Midlands Combined County Authority Claire Ward, and senior officers from Nottinghamshire Police, to pay their respects at a vigil at St Peter’s Church.

It is the site where, just hours after the brutal attacks which left three people dead, on June 13th last year, an impromptu vigil was held for victims Grace O’Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber, and Ian Coates.

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Within hours of the attacks hundreds of people, including many grief-stricken students who were friends of two of the victims, gathered at St Peter’s to honour those who had lost their lives. 

And today, at a smaller but poignant gathering, politicians and police leaders met to reflect on the events that left Nottingham stunned with horror.

‘The darkest day’

Visibly moved, Lilian Greenwood, MP for Nottingham South, where the killings of Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber took place, recalled the “darkest day I can ever remember in our city”.

“I found it incredibly moving to be back here,” she said. “You cannot imagine how difficult today is for the families of Ian, Grace and Barnaby. We want them to know that Nottingham hasn’t forgotten them. Nottingham will never forget them.

“I’m remembering what is just the darkest day I can ever remember in our city, the city really pulled together to support people and to say that we’re much better than this.”

Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Kate Meynell attended the ceremony, to lay a flower on the altar of St Peter’s and, along with others present, light a candle in commemoration of the victims.

Speaking to Nottingham World, she said: “Today my thoughts are with Barnaby, Grace, Ian and their families. It was important for me today to come and pay my respects on behalf of everybody at Nottinghamshire Police. 

“We will never, ever forget the devastating circumstance of the attack, the tragic loss of life, and the impact it’s had on the community. It’s also important to remember the injured people as well, the three people who were injured as a result of the attacks. 

“We’re thinking of all of those people today.”

Impact and consequences continue to be felt

Looking back to the shocking events last year, and the days following, Meynell said that she had never witnessed anything comparable in her time as a police officer.

She said: “I’ve never been involved personally in anything like that. I’ve spent most of my career in Nottinghamshire. This was a truly devastating attack and we can see the consequences of that today and the impact it’s had on everyone.

“It was a significant incident for everybody within Nottinghamshire, and that includes Nottinghamshire Police. It was circumstances and an incident that we aren’t used to dealing with. 

“It was challenging, and the impact it’s had was significant, and we can see that here today.”

Ceremonies across the city

Elsewhere in the city, family members and friends of the three victims gathered at various significant locations to pay their respects. 

In the morning they walked the route that Grace O-Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber took on their way home from the city centre, to the site in Radford where they were attacked.

Ceremonies were also held at the school in St Ann's where Ian Coates worked as caretaker, and on the campus of the University of Nottingham. And all Nottingham City Council staff marked their respects by falling silent at 1pm.

The grief of the families of the victims has been compounded by a complex and protracted struggle against the ruling in January that killer Valdo Calocane could not be held legally responsible for the acts - and therefore was not found guilty of murder - in light of his mental health.

Instead Calocane pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. As a result he avoided prison but was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order, from which he may be released in the future.

A quest for justice

Commenting today on the families’ fight for justice, Greenwood said: “I know for the families today is a day for remembering, but there’s also a fight and a quest for justice, and it’s really important that that isn’t forgotten. 

“There absolutely are lessons to be learned, whether it’s by the police or mental health services or the Crown Prosecution Service. 

“It’s really important that we do have those reflections and that we do find out where mistakes were made.”

The families have also been highly critical of the handling of Calocane by Nottinghamshire Police and local mental health services prior to the attacks. 

They say Calocane, who was known to Notts Police and mental health services after multiple prior violent offences, should not have been free at the time of the attacks. 

Their claims against the force, and against Leicestershire Police, are currently the subject of an official investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).