The suspect arrested on suspicion of murdering three people on the streets of Nottingham is Valdo Amissão Mendes Calocane, The Telegraph understands.

The 31-year-old is understood to have graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in mechanical engineering last year.

The university said it was devastated the suspect was once a student. Police have said it is not believed to be connected with the attack.

A 31-year-old man was arrested at 5.30am on Tuesday on suspicion of attacking Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, as well as 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates during a knife and van rampage on Tuesday.

Nottinghamshire Police earlier confirmed the suspect is himself a former student at the university grieving the deaths of Mr Webber and Ms O’Malley-Kumar.

In a statement, the university said: “We are devastated that the suspect is a former University of Nottingham student.”