it was such a bang. much of the city centre has been cordoned off all day as police try to piece together what happened here. we are keeping an open mind and are working closely with counterterrorism policing to establish the facts. and our other main stories this evening... the nine—year—old killed by his mother and her partner — the shocking case of the life and death of alfie steele. a first glimpse of areas retaken from russia in ukraine's counteroffensive, a bbc team gains access close to the front line. and limbering up for the ashes, we look ahead to ben stokes leading england into battle with australia. also, a warning and stay here on bbc news for

upcoming correspondence with our team and analysis around the uk and around the world. good evening from nottingham. two 19—year—old students at nottingham university are among three people who were killed in the early hours of this morning. the city centre has been cordoned off all day as police try to piece togetherjust what happened here. we know there were three attacks in different parts of nottingham three people have been killed, three others were hit by a van in the early hours of the morning, a stolen van, and one is in hospital in a critical condition. police were first called at about 4am this morning after two people were found dead in ilkeston road, about a mile from here. that if a student area of the city.

three people were then hit by a stolen van in milton street in the city centre. later, a man was found dead in magdala road, less than a mile away. a 31—year—old man was arrested on suspicion of murder in bentinck road. police say they are keeping an "open mind" over the motive they are reassuring the public they are not looking for anyone else in connection with this and in the last few minutes they have been giving a press conference, we will have the details about in a moment. our midlands correspondent navtej johal is at the scene of one of the attacks this morning. police raids in a city reeling from the shock of a major incident that has left three people dead and three injured. one of them in a critical condition. this is where it all began, two people died here on ilkeston road in the early hours of the morning. and eyewitness saw a young woman and a young man being stabbed before the attacker walked

off towards the city centre. and eyewitness says she then saw a van which hit pedestrians. the eyewitness says she then saw a van which hit pedestrians.— which hit pedestrians. the woman went on the _ which hit pedestrians. the woman went on the curb. _ which hit pedestrians. the woman went on the curb. the _ which hit pedestrians. the woman went on the curb. the man - which hit pedestrians. the woman went on the curb. the man went l which hit pedestrians. the woman l went on the curb. the man went up which hit pedestrians. the woman - went on the curb. the man went up in the air. it was such a bang. i wish i never seen it because it's really shaken me up. i never seen it because it's really shaken me un— i never seen it because it's really shaken me urn-— i never seen it because it's really shaken me up. three people were in'ured in shaken me up. three people were injured in that _ shaken me up. three people were injured in that incident _ shaken me up. three people were injured in that incident and - shaken me up. three people were injured in that incident and this i shaken me up. three people were injured in that incident and this is | injured in that incident and this is believed to be the van that was used. later, a third person was found dead a mile away. the emergency services responded by flooding the city centre, closing roads and the city's entire tram network. police have arrested a 31—year—old man on suspicion of murder and he remains in police custody. they say they are not looking for anyone else at this time. a student in the city says he saw police just before the arrest. i can see a police van, a police car even, and a police officer walking alongside the car as it was slowly approaching a white van that had been parked down the road. when i

heard the policeman shouted to the guy in the van, "get out of the car!" preceded by the sound of a gunshot. car!" preceded by the sound of a aunshot. ., car!" preceded by the sound of a iunshot, ., ,, . ., , car!" preceded by the sound of a aunshot. ., ,, . ., , gunshot. the home secretary said olice gunshot. the home secretary said police were _ gunshot. the home secretary said police were still _ gunshot. the home secretary said police were still working _ gunshot. the home secretary said police were still working out - gunshot. the home secretary said police were still working out why l police were still working out why the attack took place. we police were still working out why the attack took place.— police were still working out why the attack took place. we need to allow the police _ the attack took place. we need to allow the police the _ the attack took place. we need to allow the police the time - the attack took place. we need to allow the police the time and - the attack took place. we need to l allow the police the time and space to carry out all their operational activity to determine the motive. it is right that nottinghamshire police are working with counterterrorism policing, but it is also fair to say that everybody and all professionals on the front line are keeping an open mind as to what the precise motive might have been.- motive might have been. tonight olice motive might have been. tonight police provided _ motive might have been. tonight police provided an _ motive might have been. tonight police provided an update - motive might have been. tonight police provided an update on - motive might have been. tonight police provided an update on the | police provided an update on the investigation. we police provided an update on the investigation.— investigation. we are still in the early stages _ investigation. we are still in the early stages of _ investigation. we are still in the early stages of the _ investigation. we are still in the early stages of the investigation and need to determine exactly what the motives were behind this attack. we are keeping an open mind and are working closely with counterterrorism policing to establish the facts, as we would normally do in this type of

circumstances. the families of all the victims have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers. this are being supported by specially trained officers.— trained officers. this evening, a itcher trained officers. this evening, a pitcher has _ trained officers. this evening, a pitcher has taken _ trained officers. this evening, a pitcher has taken place - trained officers. this evening, a pitcher has taken place in - trained officers. this evening, a i pitcher has taken place in memory trained officers. this evening, a - pitcher has taken place in memory of the victims at a church in nottingham city centre —— a vigil. this is where the shocking events began today and it is an area which has been swarming with police activity all day. it has now been confirmed that two of those who died were students from the university of nottingham. this incident has caused so much concern and confusion, as tonight this is if he searches for answers. navtej tonight this is if he searches for answers. navteonhal, bbc news. —— at this city. our home affairs correspondent, daniel sandford, is with me. in the last ten or 15 minutes there had been a police press conference with new details.— had been a police press conference with new details. what has come out ofthat with new details. what has come out of that firstly — with new details. what has come out of that firstly the _ with new details. what has come out of that firstly the fact _ with new details. what has come out of that firstly the fact that _ with new details. what has come out of that firstly the fact that two - with new details. what has come out of that firstly the fact that two of - of that firstly the fact that two of the people who were attacked were just 19 years old, we knew to students who had died but we

discovered their ages but we also got an idea of how this attack at different stages. you have the two i9—year—olds who were stabbed, and then a number of people driven out by a van and police later discovered a man in his 50s who had died appears to be the owner of the van and he had also been stabbed so putting that in a different order, it looks like after he has been stabbed, that is when people were driven out in the van so it is a combination of him stealing the ban and trying to run people down, but also stabbing three people. paiice also stabbing three people. police have said they're _ also stabbing three people. police have said they're working - also stabbing three people. police have said they're working alongside counterterrorism colleagues but could it be terrorism?— counterterrorism colleagues but could it be terrorism? what police are sa in: could it be terrorism? what police are saying is _ could it be terrorism? what police are saying is they _ could it be terrorism? what police are saying is they are _ could it be terrorism? what police are saying is they are keeping - could it be terrorism? what police are saying is they are keeping an i are saying is they are keeping an open mind and the reason for that is obviously the style of the attack has echoes of some very serious recent low—level terrorist the use of the vehicle and nice but there are other parts that are a bit odd, the time of day, in the middle of the time of day, in the middle of the night, is a bit odd. i have heard the man in custody may have had mental health difficulties in the past so that has to be factored

in. what is happening if there is a counterterrorism team making an assessment as to whether they think this is a terrorist —related, in other words politically or religiously motivated but meantime, ordinary detectives are carrying out the investigation, assisted by counterterrorism police. the police cordon is still _ counterterrorism police. the police cordon is still in _ counterterrorism police. the police cordon is still in place. _ counterterrorism police. the police cordon is still in place. the - counterterrorism police. the police cordon is still in place. the city - cordon is still in place. the city centre has been shut down all day since the attacks took place. a lot of shock and fear in the city but police are saying tonight that people can come back in to the city without worrying. now it's back to mishal in the studio for the rest of the day's news. a woman was convicted of manslaughter today over the death of her nine—year—old son, with her partner convicted of his murder. alfie steele's body was found in february 2021, submerged in a bath and covered in dozens of injuries. for months, neighbours had contacted the police, worried at what they had seen and heard of the house and family. our midlands correspondent, phil mackie, reports. a warning that there is a graphic

content within it. he was a little boy who loved football and rugby and was described by his school as being kind, cheeky and generous. but during his short life he suffered the most cruel and inhumane treatment at the hands of his mother, carla scott, and her partner, dirk howell. screaming. this was alfie crying after he had been locked outside his house as part of their punishment regime. when did you first come across him? about ten minutes ago. eventually the cruelty became too much. this was scott talking to detectives as paramedics tried in vain to revive alfie. she said he had fallen asleep in the bath. in reality, he probably drowned after being held forcibly underwater. howell was already on the run but was quickly caught. you're under arrest on suspicion of attempted murder. this was him during a previous encounter with officers. angry and belligerent —

he was a bully. he ignored a court order preventing him staying at the house. he had posted instructions in every room for alfie to follow and if he didn't, he was punished. this is one of a number of 999 calls. it was made six months before alfie was killed. in other calls, neighbours told the operators they'd seen social workers and police officers visit the house on numerous occasions, which begs the question, could alfie have been saved? the contact that west mercia police had with the family has been reviewed and doesn't meet the criteria for making a referral to the independent office of police conduct. we are committed, however, to learning lessons from this tragic case. when he was convicted of murder, howell gave no reaction. scott was in tears after being found guilty of manslaughter. outside court, herfather,

alfie's grandad, struggled to speak. it fills us with immense sadness that will never be able to see that same cheeky smile again. losing alfie has left a massive void in our lives. in the moments after he died, you can see a slogan on the living room wall. it says, "family — where life begins and love never ends." if only it had been true, alfie steele may still be alive. let's get more from phil, who's outside coventry crown court. again, the story of a child who should have been saved but also of opportunities to intervene that were missed? , , ., opportunities to intervene that were missed? , , ,, , missed? yes, it is a depressingly familiar tale. _ missed? yes, it is a depressingly familiar tale. i was _ missed? yes, it is a depressingly familiar tale. i was here - missed? yes, it is a depressingly| familiar tale. i was here reporting 18 months ago, the same court, different child, and a few weeks

ago, reporting, different court but ago, reporting, different court but a different child, finley boden, and in both cases, like alfie, they have been killed by a parent and a partner and those other people who should have been looking after them. what is a similar part of all all of those three stories is that deaths and the abuse they suffered happened during the height of the covid pandemic and it is believed that as a result of that, they were rather lost in the system and in fact, during the court case here, the prosecutor is referred to alfie as having, his case having been lost in the cracks because of the system, because checks were not taken place. and there were dozens of phone calls made by neighbours raising concerns which begs the question, what could have been done to save alfie? that is the subject as i said about this safeguarding review. they have said that will continue at a pace now, it does not mean it will happen in the next few weeks, more likely we will hearin next few weeks, more likely we will hear in the autumn whether or not those agencies, the police and

social services, could have done more and whether or not there are lessons to be learned from this case. ., ~' lessons to be learned from this case. ., ~ , ., mps have launched an inquiry into school inspections in england, and their impact on staff and pupils. the schools watchdog ofsted announced some changes yesterday, but has faced criticism since the suicide of a headteacher whose primary school was being downgraded from outstanding to inadequate. new figures have revealed that wages in the uk — excluding bonuses — are rising at their fastest level in 20 years. they've added weight to expectations that interest rates will have to rise further to curb inflation. here's our economics editor, faisal islam. at this metalwork company in leighton buzzard, there has been a £100,000 increase in the wage bill, at all levels, including the minimum wage. they all had between 5% and 7% in the last six months. and separately, when it comes to recruitment, we are seeing really high prices

coming through from the new recruits that we are looking to employ. that is seen across the economy with ordinary wages, that is excluding bonuses, up by 7.2% over a year. that might be evidence that inflation is starting to become entrenched across the economy so let's look at inflation. that is actually still higher than those wage rises which, when you put it all together, means that take—home pay is still falling after a year and a half. so financial markets think the bank of england interest rates will now top 5%. the market for two—year borrowing to the government, effectively a judgment on where rates will go, that is now at the highest level for a decade and a half. and just today exceeded the high seen during last autumn's mini budget panic. so a big decision coming next week for the bank of england given these figures. as i'm afraid this morning's numbers illustrate, we have a very tight

labour market in this country. we have had a fall in the supply of labour. which is showing signs of recovering but very slowly, frankly. so the heat in the jobs market means the bank of england and financial markets are now more worried about inflation sticking around in britain, and so more likely to see higher interest rates, starting next week. faisal islam, bbc news. donald trump is about to arrive in court in miami, florida shortly to face multiple federal charges of hoarding classified documents. it'll be the first criminal prosecution of a former us president, and he remains the frontrunner to be the republican candidate in next year's election. he denies the charges and has called for his supporters to protest. sarah smith, our north america editor, is outside the courthouse now. what will this appearance be like?

it will be a short but significant. the protest as you mentioned, there are plenty here, very colourful with huge trump flags, some even in red, white and blue costumes but i would say there are dozens of them, not the thousands that law enforcement here in miami expected. they might not even catch a glimpse of mr trump when he arrives, he is likely to drive straight in via an underground car park and for the court appearance itself, no cameras will be allowed in the courtroom so we will not get any images. the charges that will be read to him are very serious, underthe that will be read to him are very serious, under the espionage act, 37 counts in all including wilful retention of classified information but also obstruction ofjustice and making false statements to the fbi. if convicted, that could carry a term of up to 20 years in jail. if convicted, that could carry a term of up to 20 years injail. we know that mr trump will be fingerprinted and have a dna swab taken, they will not be a mugshot photograph, they willjust download an official photograph of him off

the web. and he continues to make these statements, that this is a politically motivated plot against him which is designed to stop him returning to the white house. we expect to hear more of that from him when he makes a speech later on tonight. and it would appearfrom recent polls that many republicans, notjust recent polls that many republicans, not just those who recent polls that many republicans, notjust those who have turned up here at the court how to him today, many republicans believe him when he says this is a plot.— says this is a plot. sarah smith, thank yon _ it is just after quarter past six. our top story this evening: police in nottingham have arrested a 31—year—old man on suspicion of murder, after three people — two of them students — were found dead in the city. crawford, mcintire... and families bereaved by covid read the names of their loved ones as the full public inquiry into the pandemic gets under way.

and stay with us here on bbc news for continued analysis from our team here in the uk and across the world. now to ukraine, where bbc journalists are among the first to gain access to one of the areas re—taken by ukrainian forces in this past week of counter—offensive operations. neskuchne, in the eastern donetsk region, is one of several settlements near the frontline recaptured by ukraine, but correspondent james waterhouse and cameraman lee durant have seen how russia is already pushing back. a journey to a new front line. only the military can take us this far. anatoly is leading the way. he's fought against russian aggression in these parts for nine years.

a battle—hardened soldier, who knows this patch. he speeds along scarred roads. it's soon clear russian forces are far from gone. "rockets," he says, "and they're going to hit us soon." so now, anatoly is putting his foot down. we are speeding through, because over the hill are russian forces, but they've just retreated, too. we've heard outgoing mortar fire, and what goes out typically comes back. we've just seen incoming fire a few hundred metres away. the russians are on higher positions in three directions. this is the village of neskuchne, and it's exposed. it's name means "not boring" in ukrainian — an obvious irony for a place part of the russian front line until three days ago. one of seven settlements recaptured with the start of ukraine's counteroffensive. "we chased them out," says artem. "this village was under occupation

for one and a half years. these are ukrainian lands." this is what we are talking about with these liberations. villages where there isn't anyone left. where buildings have either been destroyed or riddled with bullet holes, suggesting close—quarter fighting. and it's obvious the russians are trying to take back what was lost. there's heavy artillery overhead, and this is territory still being closely contested. chanting ukraine is hoping to replicate scenes like this elsewhere. but they're going to have to do it on a much greater scale to achieve their goal, their dream of complete liberation. if neskuchne is anything to go by, it may well be complicated and costly. james waterhouse, bbc news, neskuchne, in eastern ukraine. here, the inquiry into how the uk

handled coronavirus began public hearings today, as part of a process expected to last three years and question those who made key decisions. chaired by baroness hallett, proceedings have been split into several modules. the six announced so far include the development of vaccines and drugs, as well as the virus's impact on social care. later modules are expected to include the impact on education and the economy. first, though, the inquiry is looking at the period before 2020 and what preparations the uk made. here's our health editor, hugh pym. a roll call for those who lost their lives. bereaved relatives outside the public inquiry today. one of them, bruce, remembers his mother, moira. taken to hospital with a minor health issue, she got covid there and never came home. i feel the fact that i kept

reassuring her that she was safe is quite a hard thing to deal with. on the ward of 2a, most of them had contracted covid, and quite a few had actually died. and the hearing began with emotional stories from others who had lost loved ones. we're going to know people that died from this, but i never thought for a minute they would be my dad and my sister five days apart. now my anger is, i don't know what really happened. - what happened between him just being in a ward with other people that had covid to then being transferred to l icu, what was it? i don't have these answers as yet. at the end, the most you can hope is to give your loved one a good death, and we will forever carry

the guilt that our daddy was denied that. the inquiry chair acknowledged the frustration of some bereaved families. i hope they will understand when they see the results of the work we are doing that i am listening to them. their loss will be recognised. they will be able to contribute to the inquiry. the lawyers then started to look at how prepared the uk was before the pandemic. and even at this stage, before hearing the evidence, it is apparent that we might not have been very well—prepared at all. questions have been asked about why it has taken time for the uk covid public inquiry to get under way. sweden's, for example, was concluded last year. but officials here say it is one of the first with the power to compel witnesses to attend and with hearings in public. and bruce is clear what he wants to see from the inquiry. there's very little i can do about my mum now,

but i think it's more to do with that kind of making sure that something like this never happens again, that we are prepared, that the investment is there. scotland has its own inquiry starting later this year. the uk version is now under way, though the hearings are set to run until 2026. hugh pym, bbc news. the police watchdog is investigating two officers for possible gross misconduct over a e—bike crash that killed two in cardiff. they were seen following the bike carrying the two boys shortly before it crashed. the deaths sparked a riot in the ely area. our wales correspondent hywel griffith is there now. the investigation was already under how significant is this development? well, in the three weeks or so since that crash where we saw the loss of life of kyrees sullivan and harvey evans, this is the first real sign of progress. you may remember that in the hours and days which followed the crash, cctv footage emerged that

showed the two boys on an electric bike been followed by a marked police van around the streets here in ely. the police must make an immediate response was to say they were not being chased, but that was contested by people locally —— the police's first response. the office for police conduct has reviewed cctv and looked at body one footage by officers and gone through statements and has decided to issue two gross misconduct officers to both the driver and a passenger in that police van. it's important to point out this does not necessarily mean they will face disciplinary action, i understand neither officer has been suspended by south wales police. but the iopc says it will continue going to hundreds of clips and statements and it is speaking regularly to the families of those two boys as their investigation continues. two boys as their investigation continues-— two boys as their investigation continues. , , ' ., ~ continues. hywel griffith, thank ou. now, the first ashes test is nearly upon us, beginning at edgbaston on friday.

it's the series that has brought some memorable england—australia meetings over the years. in 1981, ian botham was so dominant with bat and ball that the series became known as botham's ashes. in 1993, the late shane warne was part of the winning australian side. the 2005 series saw freddie flintoff and england victorious. and in 2019, this was the moment from ben stokes — that kept the ashes series alive. and he is now the captain. and so, to set the stage for 2023, here's our sports correspondent, joe wilson. three days to ashes, fingers crossed, watch his knees. strapped up, but ok. phew! this summer, ben stokes versus australia. that's really down to his huge influence as england's captain. the team turned to winners through his mentality.

i think what we've done is, we've taken a group of players who are obviously very good at what they do, but i think what we've been able to do is just to sort of let them go out and be free. and i think that they've even got to a point, even now, where they probably think they are better than what they thought they were. and that's just all through a mindset change and allowing people to go out and be who they are on the field and off the field. so, when stokes texted a pal to come out of retirement to play here, moeen ali replied, "lol", and then agreed. i thinkjust the fact that it's the ashes and it's such a big, big series, and the exciting cricket the guys have been playing. i think this is the kind of era i would have loved while i was playing. ultimately, mo, do you think you would have done this for any other captain? probably not, no. birmingham's the first of five test match venues. maybe it takes the ashes to realise how close these countries really are. in some ways. australia training, bringing

a bit of the beach to birmingham. that takes confidence, and that's something australia always bring. well, australia are in very good form. they've just won a big match in london, beating india in the world test championship final. it means they get to hold a kind of oversized, shiny lollipop. actually, it's a mace, and it means they are the best test team in the world. but, look, this is england's favourite ground, and the scoreboard is already practising. england — 1123—1. well, that would do. joe wilson, bbc news, edgbaston. let's go back now to nottingham and the attacks that are our main story this evening, with sophie. well, really sad day here in nottingham. three people have been killed, two of them were just 19 years old, studying at the university of of nottingham. large parts of the city centre remain cordoned off tonight as police continue their investigations. i am

joined by our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford. so many unanswered questions and pill —— and people don't know what happened. -- and people don't know what happened-— -- and people don't know what hauened. ., , ' . ., happened. really difficult day for the city and _ happened. really difficult day for the city and a _ happened. really difficult day for the city and a difficult _ happened. really difficult day for the city and a difficult day - happened. really difficult day for the city and a difficult day for - happened. really difficult day for the city and a difficult day for the university with two 19—year—olds losing their lives. the chief constable described it as a very sad day for the city and she has promised to do everything to get justice for the victims. we also have a man in critical condition in hospital so there is still concern about that. the investigation begins now. there is a vc huge amount of forensic work going on at the moment, we have seen forensic officers at multiple sites around the city. we saw large numbers of firearms officers going into one of the locations and there was still safety concerns. police seem to be reassured now this was an isolated incident with only one person involved at this stage. detectives are being assisted by counterterrorism officers, but it is stilljust counterterrorism officers, but it is still just a counterterrorism officers, but it is stilljust a murder investigation at this point. stilljust a murder investigation at this oint. .,

this programme continues on bbc one. hello, welcome to bbc news. donald trump is set to make history once again as the only former president to be charged with a federal crime. he's due to appear in court shortly where he is expected to plead not guilty to dozens of charges related to the mishandling of classified information. the mayor of miami has called for peaceful protests as potentially thousands of people may

be rallying in