Who is the Nottingham attacks suspect? Valdo Calocane to enter pleas to three murder charges in September

A triple murder suspect has been remanded in custody until September, after two students and a school caretaker were killed in knife and van attacks in Nottingham.

Former University of Nottingham student Valdo Calocane briefly appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday (20 June), where he was remanded in custody until September, when he will be expected to enter pleas.

The 31-year-old is accused of murdering first-year students Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber and school caretaker Ian Coates in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Calocane is also alleged to have attempted to murder three pedestrians, Wayne Birkett, Marcin Gawronski and Sharon Miller, after Mr Coates’ van was used to drive at people in Milton Street and Upper Parliament Street.

When asked to identify himself at the start of the hearing on Tuesday, the defendant replied “my name is Adam Mendes”, which he also said when he faced magistrates in the city on Saturday.

Wearing a grey prison jumper and tracksuit, and flanked by five security officers , Calocane, of no fixed abode, remained calm in the dock and was not asked to enter pleas during the hearing in the packed courtroom, reporters at the scene said. Peter Ratliff, prosecuting, said: “This is a complex and ongoing investigation with multiple lines of inquiry being pursued.”

Judge Nirmal Shant KC adjourned proceedings until a plea and trial preparation hearing on 25 September, and thanked the families of the victims for their “upmost restraint”.

“There are a number of people here today who are profoundly and devastatingly affected by this case. Can I say through you that they have shown the upmost restraint and dignity and I thank them for it," the judge said. Members of Mr Coates’ family were present in court.

Judge Shant set a provisional trial date of January 12, 2024 and remanded Calocane into custody. Calocane, who gave his name as Adam Mendes, made his first brief appearance in the dock at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.

Nottinghamshire Police said the former Nottingham University student was tasered and arrested on suspicion of murder following the deadly rampage. On Thursday (15 June), police confirmed detectives had been given a further 36 hours to question the man. Here's everything we know about the suspect and a possible motive so far:

What do we know about the suspect so far?

Nottinghamshire Police said a 31-year-old man was tasered and arrested on suspicion of murder following the deadly rampage, and remains in custody. He has been named by several news outlets as Valdo Amissão Mendes Calocane.

Very little information has been released about the man so far, and he is yet to be formally charged. On Thursday, police said the suspect in the triple murder is a former University of Nottingham student, although officers do not believe that to be connected with the attack.

Multiple sources report the suspect is originally from West Africa. The BBC says official sources have confirmed he did not have a prior criminal record, was not known to security services, and had lived in the UK for many years. He was not a British citizen, but was a UK resident with settled status.

A witness who saw police following the stolen white van believed to have been used in the attacks told Channel 4 news the man in the driver's seat was "black with dreadlocks. He had a beard, and he had a hat on".

The BBC also reports CCTV footage has emerged that shows a man believed to be the suspect either shortly before or during the incident on Tuesday morning.

It shows the man - wearing a black hoodie - attempting to climb into an open window at a homeless hostel. An arm from inside pushes him away. Another man outside the hostel speaks to him, and he then walks away

What do police say about a potential motive?

Nottinghamshire Police’s chief constable Kate Meynell told reporters the force was not looking for anyone else in connection with the incidents and no further arrests had been made. The police chief said the motive behind the attack was yet to be determined, but officers were keeping an “open mind” and working with counter-terror police.

Ms Meynell confirmed officers had carried out searches at a number of properties around the city – with cordons seen being put up on various sections of Ilkeston Road.

A BBC reporter at the scene said he understood the suspect has a history of mental health issues.