‘Crossbow suspect tied up ex, sister and mom earlier than taking pictures them’
A mother and her two daughters were tied up and shot dead with a crossbow after a deadly rampage at their suburban Hertfordshire home.
One of the victims is believed to be the former partner of the suspect Kyle Clifford, 26, from Enfield, north London.
Police launched an urgent manhunt for Clifford after the three women’s bodies were found at a home on Ashlyn Close in Bushey last night.
They have warned the public not to approach the suspected triple killer as he is in possession of a crossbow.
Neighbours of the victims spoke of their shock while a local councillor attempted to calm fears of residents as a police helicopter hovered over the scene.
Kyle Clifford, 26, from Enfield, is being actively sought by police who have warned the public not to approach him as he may be carrying a weapon
A paramedic can be seen talking into his radio at the crime scene while a police officer stands guard at one of the houses
Police have said they have launched a manhunt for Clifford
The cul-de-sac remained sealed off as forensic teams carried out a search of the property.
Local councillor Lawrence Brass said: ‘I have come down to speak to residents who might be afraid. This is a very middle-class community and there are obviously fears.’
Neighbours told how over a dozen police cars converged on Ashlyn Close on Tuesday evening.
‘There were flashing lights everywhere and all the cars blocked off the road. It was quite frightening. No one knew what was going on, but we knew something bad had happened.’
Another neighbour added: ‘It is very scary when something like this happens so close.
‘I vaguely knew the family as I think my son went to school with the girls. It is just awful and does not bear thinking about.’
An aerial view of the scene of the suspected triple murder in Bushey, Hertfordshire
A police car is seen parked up outside a police cordon in Ashlyn Close, Bushey
Forensics outside a home in Ashlyn Close, Bushey, where three women were found ‘murdered’
Two officers stand outside a police cordon at the scene of a triple murder in Ashlyn Close
Another neighbour, Riaz, who is in his 50s and declined to give his surname, said: ‘This has been an awful situation and I can’t even imagine what the family must be going through.’
He said: ‘At about eight o’clock last night, I was watching the football on television, and suddenly a helicopter landed in the lawn outside my flat, which is at the top of this road, and then my phone started going, and I was told that there was a major incident here in Bushey and we should all keep away because there was somebody apparently on the run.
‘This is not something that happens in Bushey.
‘We can’t remember a murder in our rather quiet neck of the woods, so (it’s a) terrible shock and our sympathies and prayers and thoughts are with the families of the three women.
‘That really is a terrible thing to happen to anybody, and I’ve gathered they’re all from the same family, which obviously makes it even more tragic, and we’ll do everything we can as the local council to add our source of comfort where we can.’
Police in Ashlyn Close, Bushey, Hertfordshire, where three women died last night
Several police cars can also been seen parked on the road. One resident claimed 11 police cars, an armed response unit, 4 ambulances and a fire engine descended on the scene last night
An officer stands next to a police a car outside the scene of a triple murder in Ashlyn Close, Bushey
Investigators believe Clifford could be in Hertfordshire or north London.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she is being kept fully updated about the inquiry into the ‘truly shocking’ deaths.
Detective Superintendent Rob Hall from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit called for anyone with information to come forward.
‘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,’ he said.
‘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 inquiries will continue over the coming days to ascertain the full circumstances of what happened but I would also like to take this opportunity to 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.’
An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called around 7pm on Tuesday July 9 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.’
Local councillors for the area Louise Nicolas, Alan Matthews and Paul Richards said: ‘We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic news that three women have lost their lives in a violent incident which took place in the heart of our local community.
‘As North Bushey councillors, we extend our thoughts and condolences to their families and all those affected.
‘We would encourage anyone who has information relevant to the inquiry to contact police.’
The previous government had considered tightening the laws around crossbows after would-be assassin 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.
Currently there is no requirement to have a licence for a crossbow, but it is illegal to carry one in public without a reasonable excuse.
