Police hunting a man in connection with a triple murder in Hertfordshire fear he may be armed with a crossbow, and believe other weapons could also have been used in the fatal attack.
Three women – aged 25, 28 and 61 – were found with serious injuries after officers were called to a property in Bushey on Tuesday evening.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics, the women – who are believed to be related – died at the scene in Ashlyn Close shortly after emergency services arrived just before 7pm, Hertfordshire Police said.
Police have been searching through the night for 26-year-old Kyle Clifford from the Enfield area, with an extensive search now under way in Hertfordshire and 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,” said Detective Superintendent Rob Hall.
Contact The Independent newsroom at Amy-Clare.Martin@independent.co.uk
Key Points
- Police launch manhunt after three women killed
- Victims were aged 25, 28 and 61, police say
- Public warned not to approach 26-year-old Kyle Clifford
- Suspect may be armed with crossbow, police fear
- Mapped: Officers called to address in Bushey on Tuesday night
Watch: Police issue direct plea for triple murder suspect Kyle Clifford to call 999
13:02
Andy Gregory
New police press statement in full
12:47
Andy Gregory
Here is the full statement from superintendent Jon Simpson at the press conference held moments ago:
“Police were called to a property in Ashlyn Close, just before 7pm last night. Officers attended alongside colleagues in the East of England Ambulance Service and on arrival found three women with serious injuries.
“Sadly despite their best efforts, the women – who are believed to be related – died a short time later at the scene. The victims are aged 25, 28 and 61. 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 of Hertfordshire. The manhunt also involves armed police officers and specialist search teams responding at pace in the wake of what has been a horrific incident, involving what is currently believed to be a crossbow, but other weapons may also have been used.
“If members of the public see Kyle Clifford they are urged not to approach him at any point, and to dial 999 immediately. Kyle, if you are seeing or hearing this, please make contact with the police via 999
“Beyond the immediate search operation, a major crime inquiry has been launched and we also appeal to the public for any information relating to the incident. This incident will be of course of concern to local residents. Additional local officers will be in the area today so please do speak to them if you need to.”
Suspect urged to contact police
12:43
Andy Gregory
Kyle Clifford has been urged to make contact with the police.
In a direct plea to the subject of the current manhunt, superintendent Jon Simpson said: “Kyle, if you are seeing or hearing this, please make contact with the police via 999.”
Other weapons beside crossbow may have been used, police say
12:41
Andy Gregory
Other weapons besides a crossbow may have been used in the triple murder, police have said.
Superintendent Jon Simpson told a press conference: “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 of Hertfordshire.
“The manhunt also involves armed police officers and specialist search teams responding at pace in the wake of what has been a horrific incident, involving what is currently believed to be a crossbow, but other weapons may also have been used.”
Police reveal ages of three victims in Bushey triple murder
12:40
Andy Gregory
The three female victims in the triple murder are aged 25, 28 and 61, Hertsfordshire Police superintendent Jon Simpson has told a press conference.
Resident describes hearing screaming prior to ‘absolute chaos’ in Ashlyn Close
12:31
Andy Gregory
A resident of Ashlyn Close in Bushey where police are investigating the murders of three women said they heard screaming on Tuesday evening as the “absolutely traumatic” incident unfolded.
The 46-year-old, who did not wish to share their name but works in the media, 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.”
The resident said multiple ambulances, helicopters and “at least 16 police cars” arrived at the scene quickly, with armed police going from house to house to question locals, request doorbell camera footage and tell them to stay indoors.
The woman said she was upset and stressed to know a man sought in connection with the triple murder is still at large, adding: “It’s really, really stressful now to think that that happened in such a close vicinity and none of us were aware and none of us could help.
“It’s just absolutely traumatic, I think, for the family involved, for everyone.
“I think that’s the stressful thing, that it happened at peak family time between 6pm and 7pm, when people were probably cooking for their kids and getting their kids ready for bed, and all of us in a tight little road, completely unaware of the trauma and tragic circumstances that other people were going through at that particular time.”
Neighbour ‘shocked beyond measure'
12:21
Oliver Castle, in Bushey
Resident Jill Phillips, a 70-year-old who lives nearby, told The Independent: “I am shocked beyond measure.
“We are just a quiet area so to hear all this is just shocking. I am horrified and feel sorry for the family.”
Home secretary being kept ‘fully updated’ on investigation
12:19
Andy Gregory
Home secretary Yvette Cooper has said she is being kept “fully updated” on the investigation.
Ms Cooper said: “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 [and] with the community.
“I am being kept fully updated. I urge people to support [Hertsfordshire Police] with any information about this case.”
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.
— Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) July 10, 2024
I am being kept fully updated. I urge people to support @HertsPolice with any information about this case.
Councillor says ‘worst thing' previously to happen in area is illegal flytipping
12:17
Andy Gregory
Local councillor Lawrence Brass, who lives close by the scene in Bushey, said: “I didn’t know them personally but I knocked on their door, I was canvassing a few days ago for the general election.
“I’m sure that their friends will be comforting the remains of the family that are left. These are all my representatives, I know them all.
“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.
“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.”
Neighbour describes family as friendly
11:36
Andy Gregory
A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she did not know the victims well but they were a friendly family.
“We would see them every day passing by and they would say good morning,” she said. “It’s really sad what’s happened, very shocking.”
Met Police assisting with investigation
11:31
Andy Gregory
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that it is assisting Hertsfordshire Police with its investigation into the suspected triple murder in Bushey.
Suspect Kyle Clifford is from the Enfield area, and police have said it is believed he could be in Hertfordshire or north London.
Pictured: Police present at cordoned-off property on Ashlyn Close
11:17
Andy Gregory
Police are at the scene on Ashlyn Close, which has been cordoned off following the suspected triple murder at a property on the street.
Neighbour laments ‘tragic’ situation
11:05
Andy Gregory
A man who lives close to the murder scene in Bushey said the incident was “tragic”.
Riaz, who is in his 50s and declined to give a second name, said: “At 6 o’clock, my wife called me while I was at work, saying ‘there are so many police cars down the road which I’ve never seen before’, and she was distressed.
“I didn’t know [what had happened] at that point, then at that very moment my nephew phoned me saying something tragic had happened and was I okay? I came early evening and I saw the cars and realised something tragic had happened.”
“It’s a serene, quiet road, but there was over a dozen cars here. It’s quite disturbing, but any tragedy like this has a bearing on how you feel.”
He added: “This has been an awful situation and I can’t even imagine what the family must be going through.”
Kyle Clifford may be in possession of a crossbow, police believe
10:41
Andy Gregory
Police believe Kyle Clifford may be in possession of a crossbow, a spokesperson confirmed to The Independent.
Air ambulance pictured in Bushey on Tuesday
10:12
Andy Gregory
An air ambulance was pictured in Bushey on Tuesday, according to a resident who shared the below image with the Watford Observer on social media:
@Observer_Owl huge police presence in Bushey tonight, and a chopper at the old American University, hope it's nothing too serious pic.twitter.com/bxWoGPFDBw
— s t u (@stuuuuuey) July 9, 2024
Local officials express ‘deep shock and sadness’ after three women killed
10:04
Andy Gregory
Local councillors have expressed their “deep shock and sadness” at the suspected triple murder in Bushey on Tuesday.
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.”
Witnesses urged to come forward
09:51
Andy Gregory
Police are appealing for anyone who was in the vicinity of Ashlyn Close between midday and 7pm on Tuesday and who may have witnessed anything related to their investigation to come forward.
Detective Superintendent Rob Hall said: “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.”
Mapped: Police called to Ashlyn Close, Bushey
09:34
Andy Gregory
The three women believed to have been murdered were found with serious injuries at a property on Ashlyn Close on Tuesday evening, police said.
Public warned not to approach suspect who may be in possession of a weapon
09:28
Andy Gregory
Members of the public have been urged not to approach 26-year-old Kyle Clifford, with police warning he may still be in possession of a weapon.
Detective Superintendent Rob Hall said: “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.”
Breaking: Police launch urgent manhunt after three women killed
09:26
Andy Gregory
Detectives are hunting for a man in connection with the deaths of three women.
Officers were called to Ashlyn Close, Bushey, Hertfordshire, just before 7pm on Tuesday and found three seriously injured women. They all died at the scene.
Hertfordshire Police has been searching overnight for Kyle Clifford, 26, from the Enfield area, who is believed to be in Hertfordshire or north London.
Our crime correspondent Amy-Clare Martin has the breaking report:
09:25
Andy Gregory
We’ll be using this blog to provide you with the latest updates as police hunt a man wanted in connection with a triple murder in Bushey on Tuesday night.
