Central Nottingham was completely cordoned off on Tuesday morning after three people were found killed at several locations in the central English city in a “tragic incident” involving a van, local police said.

A 31-year-old man “has been arrested on suspicion of murder after three people were killed in the town”, while three injured people are in hospital after a “van tried to run over (them)”, Nottinghamshire Police said in a statement.

Police were first called at 4 a.m. (0300 GMT) to a downtown street where two people were found dead. Then she was called to another place “where a van had tried to run over three people”, who are currently in hospital.

Finally, a man was found dead on another street in the city, police said.

“This is a tragic and horrific incident,” Kate Meynell of Nottinghamshire Police said in the statement.

“We believe these three incidents are related and we have a male in custody,” she added.

Earlier, police said a “serious incident” was underway in Nottingham, located about 200 miles north of London.

Photos and videos circulating on social networks show a large police presence and security cordons blocking several streets in the city center.

Fire trucks, as well as liaison officers responsible for coordinating the work of several emergency services are also present.

Police official Neil Humphries had urged the public to avoid the area as these roads “are expected to remain closed for some time”.

06/13/2023 11:19:03 – London (AFP) – © 2023 AFP