British police said a man had been arrested on suspicion of murder after three people were found dead on the street in the central English city of Nottingham and three others were in hospital after an attempt to run them over with a van.

Police said two people had been found dead on a road in the center of the city just after 4 a.m. (0300 GMT) before officers were alerted to another incident not far away where someone driving a van had tried to run over three people.

They are being treated in hospital.

Another man was also found dead in a road just outside the city center.

Two of the those killed were students from one of the city's universities. A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and detectives said they were not looking for anyone else.

"We are keeping an open mind as we investigate the circumstances surrounding these incidents and are working alongside Counter Terrorism Policing to establish the facts – as we would normally do in these types of circumstances," Chief Constable Kate Meynell said.

"We are at the early stages of the investigation and need to determine the motives behind these attacks and will keep the public updated as soon as we are able to say more."

The University of Nottingham said two of those killed were its students.

"We are shocked and devastated by the news and our thoughts are with those affected, their families and friends," the university said on Twitter.

'He went straight into these two people'

One woman identified as Lynn told BBC TV she had seen a van hit a man and a woman who were left lying in the street.

"He went straight into these two people. The woman went on the kerb, the man went up in the air. There was such a bang. I wish I never saw it. It's really shaken me up."

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak thanked the police and emergency services for their response to the shocking incident in Nottingham and said police must be given the time to do their work.

"My thoughts are with those injured, and the family and loved ones of those who have lost their lives," he wrote on Twitter.

Several major roads were closed and the Nottingham tram network was suspended. Members of the emergency services were visible across the city.

Meynell said much of the city would remain sealed off while the investigation continued.

"Awful news for our city to wake up to today," Alex Norris, an MP for Nottingham, said on Twitter. "Our community's thoughts and prayers are with all those affected."

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