- Live Reporting (active)
Summary
The suspect in the Bushey crossbow killings is in a "serious condition" in hospital and hasn't spoken to officers, police say
Kyle Clifford, 26, was found in Enfield, north London, on Wednesday
Police add that a crossbow has been recovered
Carol, 61, Hannah, 28, and Louise Hunt, 25, died in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on Tuesday
The women were the wife and daughters of BBC commentator John Hunt
The BBC understands Mr Clifford is a former boyfriend of Louise Hunt
Lea Holloway - a childhood friend of Carol - was one of several people who attended a church memorial service earlier. "She was the nicest, kindest, sweetest person you could ever meet," she said
Live Reporting
Written by Danny Fullbrook and Martin Heath, edited by Kathryn Hamlett
How the second day of coverage unfoldedpublished at 17:54 11 July
17:54 11 July
As our coverage is coming to an end, here's a reminder of the main updates from today:
- Kyle Clifford - who was captured in Enfield following a manhunt - has not yet been questioned as he remains in a serious condition in hospital, Hertfordshire Police said.
- The force said a crossbow had been found and confirmed neither the suspect nor the victims had ever had contact with its officers.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer offered his condolences to the family and confirmed legislation related to crossbows would be looked at.
- Security Minister Dan Jarvis said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper would consider what had happened, adding crossbow laws would be reviewed as a "real priority".
- Flowers, cards and tributes have been left by Bushey residents at the home in Ashlyn Close.
- A vigil for the Hunt family took place at St James' Church where the Rev David Stevenson said the community had been brought together as "one big family".
Thank you for joining us. If you would like to continue to read about this news story, you can find more of our coverage here.
Image source, PA Media
Crossbow law review an urgent priority - MPpublished at 17:23 11 July
17:23 11 July
Matthew Turmaine, the new Labour MP for Watford, says he's written to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper asking for crossbow law to be reviewed following the attacks.
"They're doing that as a matter of urgency," said Mr Turmaine, whose constituency includes Bushey.
"This will be the top of the inbox.
"I do think we will hear more about this very soon as this is an urgent priority."
PM offers condolences to family of the three womenpublished at 17:00 11 July
17:00 11 JulyBreaking
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has offered his condolences to the family of Carol, 61, Hannah, 28, and Louise Hunt, 25.
He also confirmed the government would look at legislation in relation to crossbows, as previously suggested by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Computer hard drive and documents found in searchpublished at 16:55 11 July
16:55 11 July
Officers searching a house in Enfield have retrieved what appeared to be two computer hard drives and two document bags.
Two officers had to carry one of the hard drives, while another three members of staff moved the other evidence into a van.
Crossbow victim calls for tougher rules after latest attackpublished at 16:31 11 July
16:31 11 July
A woman who survived a crossbow attack which killed her partner in 2018 says the weapons need to be classified in the same way as guns.
Image source, Laura Sugden
Laura Sugden said: "Just put some legislation in, bring them in line with firearms and try to prevent future deaths."
And you can read more about current laws about crossbows here.
See AlsoBritish police track down suspect in crossbow killings of BBC presenter's wife, daughters | CBC NewsWho is BBC's John Hunt whose family have been killed in 'crossbow murder'Kyle Clifford: How manhunt for triple murder suspect unfoldedMan suspected of killing the family of a BBC radio commentator has been found, British police sayBushey resident, 91, remembers 'kind' Hunt familypublished at 16:16 11 July
16:16 11 July
Helena Wilkinson
Reporting at the scene in BusheyImage source, Helena Wilkinson/BBC
I’ve just spoken to Betty, 91, who lives close to the Hunt family home.
She told me the family offered her support during the pandemic.
Betty said the family asked her two or three times whether she wanted them to do any shopping for her.
“It was so kind,” she said, adding they didn’t have to do that.
“I was very impressed with that.”
Newmarket Racecourse falls silentpublished at 15:58 11 July
15:58 11 July
Here are some pictures from Newmarket Racecourse in Suffolk, which held a minute's silence earlier.
Image source, Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Image source, Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Image source, Shaun Whitmore/BBC
What's a crossbow and are they legal to own?published at 15:49 11 July
15:49 11 July
Hertfordshire Police have already confirmed Carol Hunt and her daughters, Hannah and Louise, were killed in a crossbow attack at a house in Bushey, Hertfordshire.
Medieval in origin, the short-range weapon consists of a bow attached to a wooden or metal frame. It can fire arrow-like projectiles called bolts.
Image source, Getty Images
Under the Crossbows Act 1987, it is legal to buy a crossbow in the UK and owners are not required to register the weapon or hold a licence.
However, it is illegal:
- For under-18s to own or buy one
- For under-21s to shoot one, unless under the supervision of someone older
- For owners to rent or lend one to anyone else
- To shoot one in a public space or any private place without permission
Police urge anyone with information to come forwardpublished at 15:42 11 July
15:42 11 July
Witnesses or people with information have been urged to contact Hertfordshire Police.
The force said officers wanted to hear of any new details about Tuesday evening's attack in Bushey, Hertfordshire.
Detectives said they also wanted to speak to anyone who had information about activity in Enfield on Wednesday where Kyle Clifford was found following a manhunt.
Image source, PA Media
'This was an unprecedented attack'published at 15:34 11 July
15:34 11 July
Det Supt Rob Hall, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, warned the investigation "will take time".
He said: “This was an unprecedented attack and we are determined to understand the full circ*mstances of what happened that evening and the events leading up to it.
"We are wholly committed to seeking justice for the victims and their family.
"Our thoughts remain with the victims’ family and loved ones at this devastating and indescribable time."
Crossbow recovered by officerspublished at 15:30 11 July
15:30 11 JulyBreaking
A crossbow has been recovered by Hertfordshire Police as part of the investigation into the deaths of Carol, Louise and Hannah Hunt, the force added.
No previous contact with suspect or victims - police forcepublished at 15:28 11 July
15:28 11 JulyBreaking
No previous reports had been made to Hertfordshire Police involving suspect Kyle Clifford or the women who died in Bushey on Tuesday, the force said in a press release.
Murder suspect in serious condition in hospitalpublished at 15:24 11 July
15:24 11 JulyBreaking
Kyle Clifford, who was wanted following the deaths of three women in Bushey, is in a serious condition in hospital and yet to speak to officers, Hertfordshire Police said.
Tributes continue from the racing communitypublished at 15:16 11 July
15:16 11 July
ITV Racing presenter Ed Chamberlin said commentatorJohn Hunt would be kept "in our thoughts" during the July Festival atNewmarket.
A minute's silence was held for Hunt during Ladies Day, thefirst day of the festival taking place at the Suffolk-based racecourse.
Fellow racing commentator Richard Hoiles also paid tributeto his colleague at the start of ITV's programming.
Image source, PA Media
Hoiles said the commentator would often talk about his wife and daughters, and recalled how, at an "annual shindig at Christmas 20 odd years ago" he proudly showed pictures of his daughters to people in the pub.
“We all felt we knew Carol and the girls, possibly far better than we actually did,” he said.
Forensic officers continue work at the housepublished at 15:06 11 July
15:06 11 July
Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from Ashlyn CloseThe cordon is still up in Ashlyn Road. In front of it is a parked police car. Behind it stand two police officers.
Forensic work at the house, which we can’t see from where we are, continues as police try to piece together what happened on Tuesday.
We’ve just seen a couple of detectives carrying out some house-to-house inquiries.They’ll be speaking to residents and will want to know if they saw or heard anything on Tuesday.
Image source, PA Media
Every bit of information, however small, will help detectives piece together what happened.
We are expecting an update from Herts Police on their investigation at some stage this afternoon.
Kyle Clifford was ex-boyfriend of Louise Huntpublished at 14:54 11 July
14:54 11 July
We mentioned earlier suspect Kyle Clifford was the former boyfriend of one of the daughters in the Hunt family.
The BBC now understands that was Louise Hunt.
We are awaiting an update from the police as to what his current condition is, but know he remains in hospital having been found with injuries yesterday.
'A heartbreaking day' for the Radio 5 Live teampublished at 14:40 11 July
14:40 11 July
BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Mark Chapman paid tribute to the Hunt family at the start of the BBC's Euro 2024 coverage last night.
Speaking through tears, he said Wednesday had been "a heartbreaking day".
"John Hunt is our colleague and our friend, not just to the current 5 Live sport team but to all of those who have worked here with him over the past 20 years and also to all of you who have enjoyed his superb commentaries," he said.
"On behalf of everybody connected to 5 Live sport, our love and thoughts and support are with John and his family."
Police expected to provide update on casepublished at 14:26 11 July
14:26 11 July
Hertfordshire Police has said it expects to provide an update on the investigation this afternoon.
The latest will be brought to you here as soon as we have it.
Image source, PA Media
Rector of Bushey urges people to avoid gossippublished at 14:08 11 July
14:08 11 July
The Reverend David Stevenson, the Rector of Bushey, who led a service at James's Church in Bushey earlier today, has encouraged people not to gossip, despite the shock in the community.
He said: "I have no answers, I don't think anybody has any answers at the moment.
"This is where we need to be careful and not gossip, not speculate and not have conspiracy theories.
"We are to support each other but support the authorities and those in the know."
Image source, PA Media
Tributes continue to be left in Busheypublished at 13:51 11 July
13:51 11 July
Friends, family and members of the community have continued to leave cards and flowers near Ashlyn Close in Bushey, Hertfordshire.
Image source, Jonathan Sumberg/BBC