A chilling revelation has emerged: the perpetrator of the horrific 2023 Nottingham attacks reportedly sought an arrest at the MI5 headquarters two years prior to the tragic events. This inquiry is now scrutinizing the circumstances surrounding the case, aiming to understand how this devastating outcome could have been averted.
Valdo Calocane, who was 34 at the time, unleashed a brutal knife attack on June 13, 2023, resulting in the deaths of Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, both 19 years old, and Ian Coates, aged 65. Calocane later admitted to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and received an indefinite sentence of detention in a secure hospital.
The inquiry, currently underway in London, heard on Tuesday that in May 2021, Calocane made an attempt to surrender himself to MI5 at their central London headquarters, Thames House. PC Graham Foster recounted confronting Calocane outside the building after he had used the intercom. Calocane reportedly informed security personnel that he wished to be apprehended and to speak with the police.
When questioned about his approach, PC Foster explained that he prioritized establishing a rapport with Calocane, believing it was the most effective way to ascertain if he possessed any further information. He described Calocane at that moment as "calm, compliant, and coherent."
Superintendent Lorraine Busby-McVey of the Metropolitan police revealed that Calocane had been reviewed by the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre (FATC), a specialized unit that assesses threats posed by individuals with fixated obsessions. However, Calocane did not meet the criteria for further assessment by this unit.
But here's where it gets controversial... Superintendent Busby-McVey stated that an intelligence report concerning Calocane's visit to Thames House was forwarded to Nottinghamshire police on June 1, 2021. Astonishingly, the force did not conduct its own subsequent assessment, a step she admitted she "would have quite liked" to have seen happen. Furthermore, she noted that the report, despite being sent to the force, was not accessible to all officers within it. A new system has since been implemented to enhance the sharing of information between police forces.
The inquiry also heard from Calocane's former flatmate, identified as Sebastian. He testified that his reports to Nottinghamshire police about Calocane's aggressive behavior within their shared flat were seemingly disregarded. Sebastian described an incident where Calocane grabbed his shirt and arm, pushed him against a wall, and uttered confusing remarks, including a cryptic message about someone contacting him and to inform them that "VC would find them."
Sebastian did contact Nottinghamshire police, and an officer assured him that a report would be filed and flagged to an agency, though the specific agency was not disclosed. Beyond this physical altercation, Sebastian also expressed suspicions that Calocane had been stalking him and attempting to enter his bedroom at night. He began locking his door, fearing for his safety due to Calocane's aggressive nature. He reported these incidents to the same officer but received no response, an experience he found "very surprising" and "weird."
Sebastian revealed that upon hearing about the Nottingham attacks, he immediately suspected Calocane as the perpetrator, even before his identity was confirmed.
This inquiry continues to unravel the complex sequence of events and decisions that preceded this tragedy. What are your thoughts on the handling of the intelligence and the interactions with Calocane? Do you believe more could have been done to prevent the attacks?
