A 31-year-old man arrested on suspicion of fatally stabbing two university students and a van driver in his 50s is refusing to answer police questions, The Telegraph understands.

The suspect, who sources say is a west African migrant who had settled in the UK legally and known to police, was arrested at 5.30am on Tuesday.

It is understood the 31-year-old is so far refusing to co-operate with police examining the circumstances surrounding the attacks, which threatens to slow down the investigation.

He was held after 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar were fatally stabbed in Ilkeston Road before a man in his 50s, believed to be a tradesman, was similarly attacked in Magdala Road.

Three people waiting at a bus stop in Milton Road were also injured when a stolen van attempted to run them over.

On Wednesday, more vigils are scheduled to take place in Nottingham to remember the victims after hundreds of people attended a memorial at St Peter’s Church on Tuesday evening. 

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