Nottingham Attacks Inquiry Begins as Victim’s Mother Demands Whole Truth

Published: 23 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

As a statutory public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks begins in London this week, Emma Webber, the mother of one of the young people killed in the 2023 tragedy, has urged authorities to reveal the “whole truth” about the events and systemic failings that allowed the fatal incident to occur. Families of the victims and survivors are seeking full accountability and transparency from police, health services and other agencies involved in the case.

On 13 June 2023, 19‑year‑old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley‑Kumar and 65‑year‑old school caretaker Ian Coates were killed by Valdo Calocane, who also seriously injured three others in coordinated stabbings and a subsequent vehicle attack in Nottingham city centre. Calocane, previously diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January 2024 after pleading guilty to three counts of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder.

The inquiry aims to examine the “events, acts and omissions” leading up to the attacks — including interactions between mental health services, the NHS, and police forces — and will run for several months, hearing evidence from professionals and officials. Many of the families have expressed frustration with earlier reviews and reports, which identified serious shortcomings in Calocane’s care but did not require witnesses to give evidence under oath.

Webber, who describes herself as feeling “overwhelmed, apprehensive and anxious” ahead of the opening hearings, said the inquiry must deliver “truthful answers” about what went wrong. “Tell the truth, admit responsibility and accountability when you didn’t do your jobs, or your organisation didn’t do their jobs properly,” she said, demanding comprehensive disclosure and honesty from all involved.

Parents and families have long campaigned for a judge‑led statutory inquiry, arguing that only a formal process with compulsory evidence can expose systemic neglect and prevent future tragedies. A report by the Care Quality Commission earlier found “a series of errors, omissions and misjudgments” in Calocane’s mental health care, including extended periods without contact with services — issues that relatives say must now be scrutinised publicly.

Dr Sanjoy Kumar, father of Grace O’Malley‑Kumar, echoed Webber’s call for accountability, saying the inquiry should “challenge the legal framework” that resulted in a hospital order rather than a lengthy custodial sentence — and ensure that lessons are learned so similar deaths can be prevented.

While families seek truth and reform, the hearings are also expected to confront procedural questions about how agencies assessed risk and managed interactions with Calocane before the attacks. The inquiry will hear testimony and documents that may offer new insights into missed opportunities to intervene — with relatives attending hearings until the inquiry’s expected conclusion in June.

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