Valdo Calocane’s parents “originally from Guinea Bissau” – Telegraph
Portugal foreign minister, João Gomes Cravinho, has said today he is in contact with British authorities about whether the man detained as a suspect for killing three people in Nottingham this week has Portuguese nationality.
“We found out recently, this morning, that apparently, the suspect has Portuguese nationality. We are investigating the matter but will be in close contact with the British authorities in this regard,” he told journalists following his meeting with British counterpart James Cleverly.
It was the Telegraph that alluded to Valdo Calocane’s possible Portuguese nationality, explaining in a article that his parents, originally from Guinea Bissau, received Portuguese nationality in Madeira in 2006 before moving to Wales and acquiring resident status as European nationals.
This has since had to be updated. The family received Portuguese nationality living in the Tapada de Mercês area, of Sintra – a neighbourhood with a strong Muslim presence.
The family was described by the Telegraph as ‘hard working’ and ‘devoutly Christian’.
Valdo Amissão Mendes Calocane, as well as his siblings, “shone academically”. The siblings are currently both understood to be studying in Oxford, says Expresso (meaning it is unclear whether they are ‘at Oxford University’ or simply studying in the town at another college/ institution).
The Telegraph explains that Calocane was a former pupil at Nottingham university, but took longer than usual to get his degree (in mechanical engineering), recently suffering mental health issues. He was “known to police”, adds the paper.
Gomes Cravinho described the terrible deaths of three apparently random victims as “a horrific event”, offering Portugal’s “deepest condolences” to the victims’ families.
Nottingham police meantime have charged Calocane now with the murders of 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and school caretaker Ian Coates, as well as the attempted murders of three further people.
Said a source before charges were confirmed: “A team of dedicated detectives continue to question the suspect and build a robust picture of what happened that morning.”
The investigation is analysing video surveillance footage, forensic analysis, and eyewitness accounts. It has also conducted searches of several properties in the city, says Lusa.
“Police believe Calocane attacked two 19-year-old Nottingham University students with a knife and killed another 65-year-old man before stealing his van.
“He then attempted to run over three people on separate occasions, with one remaining hospitalised.
“Police detained the suspect using a taser when the vehicle was stationary”.
UPDATE: Valdo Calocane has since appeared in court in Nottingham. He used the name ‘Adam Mendes‘ (apparently the name he is most known by). He is confirmed now as having dual Portuguese-Guinean nationality.
The ‘Madeira’ confusion arose as his father, a carer, apparently used to work on the island.
Valdo Calocane/ Adam Mendes has been remanded in custody pending trial next year (January 12) on three counts of murder and three further counts of attempted murder.
