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Police search for man after three women killed in Bushey Victims of Bushey triple murder believed to be family of BBC commentator
(about 3 hours later)
Officers say Kyle Clifford, 26, could be armed with crossbow and on run in Hertfordshire or north London Police search for Kyle Clifford, 26, as BBC says victims are Carol Hunt and two of her daughters, family of BBC racing commentator John Hunt
Detectives believe a triple-murder suspect may have gone on the run armed with a crossbow, after the bodies of three women were found in Bushey in Hertfordshire. A man feared to be armed with a crossbow was being hunted by armed police after three women from the same family died in a suburban home in a suspected targeted attack.
Police have launched a search for Kyle Clifford, 26, and warned he may have a weapon. Police said they urgently wanted to trace Kyle Clifford, 26, after being called to a home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on Tuesday evening.
Hertfordshire police say they were called to a home in Ashlyn Close in Bushey just before 7pm on Tuesday and discovered three women who had suffered serious injuries. Officers found three women, aged 25, 28, and 61, who police say were related. They are investigating what relationship any of the victims may have had to Clifford.
The women are believed to be related and all three died at the scene. Those who died are understood to be Carol Hunt and two of her daughters. The women are understood to be the family of the BBC’s racing radio commentator, John Hunt.
Police said a crossbow or other weapons may have been used in the attacks.
Detectives are investigating when the incident started, and have asked the public to report anything suspicious they saw in Ashlyn Close from midday on Tuesday, about seven hours before they found the seriously injured women.
One source said the women may have been held hostage for some hours before police were called.
Police named Clifford in connection with the deaths and said they believed he was from Enfield, north London, about 16 miles from the scene.Police named Clifford in connection with the deaths and said they believed he was from Enfield, north London, about 16 miles from the scene.
Police said Clifford may be dangerous and have a crossbow. On Wednesday morning armed police raided an address in Gordon Hill, Enfield, north London as the manhunt intensified.
Police appealed directly to Clifford to contact them, with officers continuing to search in Hertfordshire and London, having been warned he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Hertfordshire police say they were called to a home in Ashlyn Close in Bushey just before 7pm on Tuesday and discovered three women who had suffered serious injuries. All three died at the scene.
Police say they are “actively seeking” Clifford, and have been hunting him since the discovery of the three women.Police say they are “actively seeking” Clifford, and have been hunting him since the discovery of the three women.
A spokesperson for Hertfordshire police confirmed to the Guardian that Clifford “may be in possession of a crossbow”. Chief Supt Jon Simpson said: “Our overarching objective today is to protect public safety and to locate Kyle Clifford, who is wanted in connection with the murder of the three women in what we believe is a targeted incident.
A major and urgent part of the police investigation is how the three women received their fatal injuries. “We have extensive police resources deployed to various locations in north London and also the Bushey area … The manhunt also involves armed police officers and specialist search teams responding at pace in the wake of what has been an horrific incident involving what is currently believed to be a crossbow, but other weapons may also have been used.”
Simpson made a direct appeal to Clifford: “Kyle, if you are seeing or hearing this, please make contact with the police via 999.”
One person who lives nearby said after police found the women the area was in effect put into lockdown. The woman said: “It was between 6.30pm and 7pm last night and it literally just sounded like kids, somebody screaming, and then it was more shrill and I was like ‘that’s definitely a woman screaming’, and within 15 minutes, it was absolute chaos.
“We had armed police running down, screaming ‘stay in your house’ … they shut us off and basically put us into lockdown.”
Two air ambulances – one from London – along with ambulances and other paramedics were sent to the scene.Two air ambulances – one from London – along with ambulances and other paramedics were sent to the scene.
Police believe Clifford may be in the Hertfordshire or north London areas. Officers are warning people who believe they have spotted him not to approach him, but to call 999 instead. Police believe Clifford may be in the Hertfordshire or north London areas. Officers are warning people who believe they have seen him not to approach him, but to call 999 instead.
They have appealed to anyone who was in or around Ashlyn Close between lunchtime and 7pm on Tuesday to contact them if they believe they saw anything that could help their investigation.
Detective Supt Rob Hall, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire major crime unit, said: “This is an incredibly difficult incident for the victims’ family and we would ask that their privacy is respected as they come to terms with what has happened.
“Whilst we are still in the early stages of this investigation, we are actively seeking Kyle Clifford who we believe could be in the areas of Hertfordshire or north London.
“Given the serious nature of the incident, I would ask anyone who knows where he is to contact police immediately. If you believe you see him, please do not approach him and dial 999 straight away. He may still be in possession of a weapon.
“Our inquires will continue over the coming days to ascertain the full circumstances of what happened, but I would also like to take this opportunity appeal to anyone who was in the area around Ashlyn Close from around lunchtime on Tuesday until 7pm, and believes they may have seen anything that could assist the investigation, to contact us.
“This incident will of course be of concern to local residents. Officers from the neighbourhood policing team will be in the area today so please do speak to them if you need to.”
A spokesperson for East of England ambulance service said: “We were called around 7pm on Tuesday 9 July to a property in Ashlyn Close in Bushey. Three ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer vehicle, the hazardous area response team, the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance and London Air Ambulance were sent to the scene.A spokesperson for East of England ambulance service said: “We were called around 7pm on Tuesday 9 July to a property in Ashlyn Close in Bushey. Three ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer vehicle, the hazardous area response team, the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance and London Air Ambulance were sent to the scene.
“Sadly, despite the team’s best efforts, three women were pronounced dead at the scene.”“Sadly, despite the team’s best efforts, three women were pronounced dead at the scene.”
The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said on social media: “The loss of three women’s lives in Bushey last night is truly shocking. My thoughts are with the family & friends of those who have been killed & with the community.The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said on social media: “The loss of three women’s lives in Bushey last night is truly shocking. My thoughts are with the family & friends of those who have been killed & with the community.
“I am being kept fully updated. I urge people to support @HertsPolice with any information about this case.”“I am being kept fully updated. I urge people to support @HertsPolice with any information about this case.”
A local councillor, Laurence Brass, who lives close by, said: “At 7pm last night a helicopter landed on the lawn in the development I live in, which is 100 yards away from here, but it was an air ambulance, I’m told, and then rumours started circulating about a crossbow.A local councillor, Laurence Brass, who lives close by, said: “At 7pm last night a helicopter landed on the lawn in the development I live in, which is 100 yards away from here, but it was an air ambulance, I’m told, and then rumours started circulating about a crossbow.
“The worst thing that’s ever happened in this part of Bushey is a bit of illegal flytipping and then suddenly we get three murders and we’re all a bit shellshocked. “The worst thing that’s ever happened in this part of Bushey is a bit of illegal fly-tipping and then suddenly we get three murders and we’re all a bit shellshocked.
“This is a very traditional, quiet, leafy suburb, we don’t get this sort of thing in this area and I want residents to know that the council will be ensuring that the liaison team is down here and doing everything they can to comfort them and make sure that they are reassured that everything is being done.“This is a very traditional, quiet, leafy suburb, we don’t get this sort of thing in this area and I want residents to know that the council will be ensuring that the liaison team is down here and doing everything they can to comfort them and make sure that they are reassured that everything is being done.
“But we’re worried that this guy is still floating around somewhere.”“But we’re worried that this guy is still floating around somewhere.”