Two 19-year-old students and a man in his 50s were stabbed to death in attacks in Nottingham that also left three people injured, police have said.
Police believe the older victim’s van was stolen and driven at three other people, with one left critically ill.
Investigators have not identified the victims, but one student has been named locally as Barnaby Webber.
A suspect is in custody. Police – working with counter-terror officers – have an “open mind” about a motive.
The 31-year-old suspect was Tasered by police before being arrested on suspicion of murder.
Police, who described the incidents as “horrific and tragic” attacks, said detectives were not looking for anyone else in connection with the inquiry.
A vigil has been held in the city for people to pay their respect to the victims.
Police said they were first called just after 04:00 BST after a member of the public reported that two people aged 19 had been stabbed and were unresponsive in Ilkeston Road.
There was then another call to Milton Street, where the driver of a stolen van had attempted to run over three people, chief constable Kate Meynell said. One man is in hospital in a critical condition while two others are believed to have suffered minor injuries.
The van was then stopped on Maples Street, where a man was Tasered and detained on suspicion of murder.
A man in his 50s was also found dead from knife injuries in Magdala Road by a member of the public.
“At the moment, we believe that the suspect has stolen this man’s vehicle and driven it to Milton Street, where he has then driven at members of the public,” police said.
Police said they were still in the early stages of the investigation and were yet to determine exactly what the motives were behind this attack.
