Deadly crossbows are being offered for as little as £300 on-line
Lethal crossbows like the one used to kill John Hunt’s wife and two daughters can be bought online in minutes, MailOnline can reveal.
Our reporter was able to obtain a deadly bolt-firing bow in just a few clicks at one of dozens of retailers operating online.
The devastating £309.99 EK Archery Cobra RX Adder is described as the world’s first self-loading crossbow with a ‘top-loading magazine for quick and easy firing’.
The professional-grade hunting weapon is said to pack ‘plenty of power’ with a 130lb draw weight and can fire five carbon arrows in 30 seconds. Each arrow can be flung at 240 feet per second – equivalent to 163 miles per hour.
The weapon also comes with a red-dot sight that would enable a novice to shoot with pinpoint accuracy
Despite repeated promises by ministers to impose tougher regulations on the sales of the weapons, crossbows are still not illegal to own in the UK by over 18s.
A crossbow was used to kill the wife and daughters of BBC racing commentator John Hunt in Bushey, Herts, on Tuesday. The suspect is Kyle Clifford (pictured)
The devastating £309.99 EK Archery Cobra RX Adder (pictured) is described as the world’s first self-loading crossbow with a ‘top-loading magazine for quick and easy firing’
Another website sold a £149.99 upgrade kit for our Cobra RX bow, which would take its power from 130lb to 180lb
A 62-inch ‘takedown bow’ (pictured) on sale for £149.99 is described as being ‘blazingly fast’
They cannot be wielded in public but there are no licences or registrations needed to purchase or hire the weapons, which are routinely meant for use at archery target ranges.
A crossbow were used to kill the wife and daughters of BBC racing commentator Hunt in Bushey, Herts, on Tuesday.
Triple murder suspect Kyle Clifford, 26, allegedly tied up John’s wife Carol and their two daughters Hannah and Louise, aged 25 and 28, before firing at them.
We purchased a fearsome compound crossbow from one website, which offered us next day delivery.
The company, based in central London, states in its terms: ‘ID needs to be provided prior to the order being dispatched, if no verification of age is provided then the order will not be dispatched.’
An image of our reporter’s passport was sent by email and almost immediately acknowledged by shop staff, completing the simple transaction.
Campaigners have fought for years for tougher rules on crossbow sales and ownership. The weapons have been linked to at least 10 deaths in the past seven years.
Laura Sugden, 33, was shot and saw her partner, Shane Gilmer, 30, murdered by their neighbour Anthony Lawrence, 55, in Driffield, East Yorks, in 2018.
Louise Hunt was killed alongside her mother and sister. Neighbours said Louise had recently broken off her relationship with Clifford – the suspected killer
Hannah Hunt, 28, and mother Carol Hunt, 61, were also killed in the tragic attack on Tuesday
Police stand guard today following the fatal attack in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on Tuesday evening
The couple were attacked in their home by the lunatic who wrongly blamed them for his planned eviction.
Ms Sugden, who was pregnant, survived after pulling the arrow from her head. But the bolt passed through Shane’s right arm, damaging his liver and kidney as it embedded in his spine.
At Shane’s inquest in 2021 a coroner warned of future deaths without urgent rule changes.
Ms Sugden said: ‘I know how accessible crossbows are. I’ve heard from people who told me their teenagers ordered them online and were handed them at the front door without so much as an age identification check.
‘It’s terrifying to think that young people or anyone with a mental health problem, who might be at that point in their life where they think about hurting someone or themselves, can easily purchase one.’
She said: ‘Since Shane’s death I’ve lived every day with the memories of that night and I’ve campaigned for change to get crossbows regulated.
‘Despite the ferocity of these weapons there are no laws around them. Anyone over the age of 18 can purchase one.
‘I launched a petition to tighten up ownership, which attracted more than 42,000 signatures, and in February this year the Government launched a ‘call for evidence’ to ask anyone with a vested interest in crossbows to submit their thoughts on tighter laws around them.
Crossbow killer Anthony Lawrence broke into the home of Laura Sugden and her boyfriend Shane Gilmer in Southburn, East Yorkshire, in January 2018
Mr Gilmer (pictured with Laura), 30, died after a crossbow bolt fired by Lawrence broke his arm and a rib, damaged his liver and kidney and became embedded in his spine
The crossbow used by Anthony Lawrence to carry out his fatal attack on Shane Gilmer
‘This sadly comes too late for the family of John Hunt.
‘Attacks that result in deaths are rare but, since the Government started probing the issue, I’ve heard from lots of families whose loved ones were injured by crossbows.
‘In my opinion, one person losing their life in this horrible way is enough for change, let alone three people in one awful attack.’
Another website sold a £149.99 upgrade kit for our Cobra RX bow, which would take its power from 130lb to 180lb.
The website tells customers: ‘This kit is super easy for anyone to fit themselves, no specialist knowledge or equipment is required.’
Crossbows can also buy purchased from other retailers with same or next day delivery for less than £100. A 62-inch ‘takedown bow’ on sale for £149.99 is described as being ‘blazingly fast’.
Supermarket worker Jaswant Chail stormed Windsor Castle in a Christmas Day plot to kill Her Majesty.
Chail, 22, who wanted revenge for the Amritsar massacre of 1919, was just 500 yards away from her chambers when he was intercepted.
He was jailed for nine years for treason and the plot saw former home secretary Priti Patel vow to strengthen the law.
Jaswant Singh Chail was encouraged by an AI chatbot to break into Windsor Castle on Christmas Day 2021 with a loaded crossbow to kill the late Queen. He’s seen in a photo taken before his arrest
Chail after his arrest on December 25, 2021
In 2020, Saghawat Ramzan was jailed for 33 years for murdering his own brother and a second person with a crossbow in the West Midlands.
Serial killer Stephen Shaun Griffiths called himself the Crossbow Cannibal in court after fatally shooting a victim with one in Bradford, West Yorks, in 2010.
Sana Mohammed, 35, who was eight months pregnant, died in 2021 when her ex-husband, Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo, 51, fired a crossbow bolt into her back at her home in Ilford, east London. Her unborn son – who was delivered by Caesarean section – miraculously survived.
Figures show Greater Manchester Police have recorded 200 crimes involving crossbows since 2012, including 56 in 2022 and 2023. Even in rural Wiltshire, police recorded 73 offences linked crossbows in that time.
New home secretary Yvette Cooper is looking at tightening up the laws on crossbows after a consultation was carried out by the previous Conservative government.
The Home Office said earlier this year that it was ‘clear that when used as a weapon, crossbows do pose a risk’.
Current legislation has not been amended since its introduction in 1987.
Speaking to Radio 4, Ms Sugden said: ‘I would like to see that crossbows are brought in line with firearms, so there are the same restrictions.
Waseem Ramzan, 36, was killed by his brother by mistake after a raid on the family’s cannabis factory in Brierley Hill, Dudley
Khuzaimah Douglas was also killed in the scuffle after he was caught by the thugs fleeing scene and was shot with crossbow
Saghawat Ramzan, his son Omar Ramzan and family friend Mohammed Sageer claimed self-defence but were all jailed for life for their roles in killing the two victims
The crossbow used by Saghawat Ramzan to kill relative Waseem Ramzan and Mr Douglas
‘Nobody is able to buy them without police and medical checks being done. That’s my hope that the government will enforce.
‘The impact that they have and the range that they can be shot from is unbelievable.’
Gemma Vine, of Ison Harrison solicitors, who is helping Laura’s campaign to change the law told BBC Radio 4: ‘The law as it stands at the moment as long as you’re 18 years old you can buy one and own one.
‘i know crossbows have been reviewed a couple of times over the years and we’ve been pushing for it since [Shane’s] inquest conclusion in 2021.
‘The initial response we received from the Home Office was that the law had the right balance to protect public safety and we just feel that’s not the case.’
Security minister Dan Jarvis said talks were taking place on changing the laws on crossbows.
He said: ‘We will move at pace and we will take a view as quickly as possible as to whether the law needs to be amended.’
