The University of Nottingham has confirmed that two of?its students have been killed during a?knife and van attack in?the city centre.

Three people died in the ¡°major incident¡± that unfolded in?the early hours of?the morning on 13?June in the East Midlands city.

Nottinghamshire Police are working with counter-terror officers in its investigation but have said they are keeping an ¡°open mind¡± about the motive behind the attacks. A?31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held in police custody.

Two people were found dead in Ilkeston Road, which links the city centre and the university¡¯s Jubilee Campus, just after 4am. The other person was killed in Magdala Road in the north of the city. In a third incident, police said a van attempted to run over three people in Milton Street in the city centre. They were all taken to hospital.

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Confirming the deaths of its students, a University of Nottingham statement said: ¡°It is with great sadness that we confirm the sudden and unexpected death of two of our students following a major incident in Nottingham city centre overnight.

¡°We are shocked and devastated by the news, and our thoughts are with those affected, their families and friends.

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¡°We know this is likely to cause distress for staff and students in our community. Support is available through our support and well-being services for any of our community who may need it.¡±

The university¡¯s students¡¯ union had earlier signposted any students affected by the attack to the university¡¯s various support services.

A graduation ball, planned to take place on the evening of 13?June, was cancelled in light of what had happened.

In a statement, the union said: ¡°We are devastated and shocked by the tragic events that took place last night in the city centre.

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¡°We stand in solidarity with all our students and the wider city, and our thoughts are with the families and friends of those harmed, alongside those directly and indirectly affected by the unfolding of these terrible events.¡±

The University of Nottingham¡¯s University and College Union branch said it was ¡°absolutely devastated to hear about the tragic events in our city that have led to the deaths of three people, including two of our students, and injured three others.

¡°Our thoughts are with the families and friends of all the victims of these horrific attacks.¡±

tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com