This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jul/10/police-search-for-man-after-three-women-killed-in-bushey

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Victims of Bushey triple murder believed to be family of BBC commentator Hunt for army veteran after woman and daughters killed in Bushey crossbow attack
(about 3 hours later)
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 Police search for Kyle Clifford, 26, after discovery of bodies of Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters, Hannah and Louise
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. A manhunt is under way after a mother and two daughters are believed to have been killed in a crossbow attack, triggering a massive search for the suspect – a 26-year-old British Army veteran.
Police said they urgently wanted to trace Kyle Clifford, 26, after being called to a home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on Tuesday evening. Police said they urgently wanted to trace Kyle Clifford, 26, after being called to a house in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on Tuesday evening, where Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25, were found injured. They died shortly after at the scene.
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. Sources have told the Guardian that Carol Hunt was found in the hallway of the house with a crossbow bolt in her chest, while evidence of ligatures were found near the victims. One of the victims is understood to have texted her partner, urging them to call the police.
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. Clifford is believed to have served in the British Army for a year, sources have told the Guardian. The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment.
Police said a crossbow or other weapons may have been used in the attacks. The women are understood to be the family of the BBC’s racing radio commentator, John Hunt. As part of a note sent to BBC 5 Live staff on Wednesday, the organisation described the incident as “utterly devastating”.
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. The Hunts have another daughter, Amy, who is thought to live in Birmingham.
One source said the women may have been held hostage for some hours before police were called. Police said a crossbow or other weapons may have been used in the attacks, and they are investigating what relationship any of the victims may have had to Clifford.
Police named Clifford in connection with the deaths and said they believed he was from Enfield, north London, about 16 miles from the scene. The home secretary is urgently considering the findings of a Home Office review launched in 2021 to see if tougher crossbow laws need to be introduced.
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. A source said the victims were not gagged and bound when found, but there were ligature marks around their wrists and face, suggesting they had been and that these were removed. The source added that all of the victims had injuries to their knees.
The Guardian understands that one of the victims called 999 and alerted the police to the incident before the perpetrator fled.
Detectives have asked the public to report anything suspicious they saw in Ashlyn Close from midday on Tuesday, about seven hours before they found the women.
One source said the women may have been held hostage for 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 said Clifford may be dangerous and have a crossbow.
On Wednesday morning armed police raided an address near Gordon Hill, Enfield, north London as the manhunt intensified. The property, in Rendlesham Road, is understood to have been linked to Clifford’s brother, Bradley, who was jailed for life in 2018 for murder.
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.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. Schools in the area were placed in lockdown.
Police say they are “actively seeking” Clifford, and have been hunting him since the discovery of the three women. 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.
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.
“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.”“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.”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. A local resident said 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.”“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 seen him not to approach him, but to call 999 instead.
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.”
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 fly-tipping 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.”