Kyle Clifford: What we know about suspect and victims of Bushey triple murder

A manhunt that was under way after three women were found dead in a house in Hertfordshire has ended, with the suspect being found by police.

Throughout the day, detectives were looking for 26-year-old Kyle Clifford after the victims were discovered by police and paramedics in Bushey on Tuesday night.

They were named as Carol Hunt, 61, the wife of Sky Sports and BBC racing commentator John Hunt, and two of their daughters, Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.

Here is everything we know about Clifford and the incident.

Suspect is ex-security

Kyle Clifford is 26, from Enfield, north London.

Just after 8.30am on Wednesday, Hertfordshire Constabulary published Kyle Clifford’s name, age, and photograph.

He was on the run after the incident and police had been searching the Hertfordshire and north London areas.

Sky News understands he used to work as a private security guard.

It is believed he left the Army after a short period of service in 2022.

A woman who grew up with him in Enfield said he “always seemed pretty normal” and a “nice guy”.

“We would always be at the same parties together and hanging around in Enfield. He never seemed odd or aggressive,” she said.

Police appealed for the public’s help to find him, but had warned: “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.”

Suspect’s brother a convicted murderer

Clifford’s older brother Bradley Clifford, 30, is serving a life sentence for murdering a teenager in 2017.

Bradley Clifford mowed down 19-year-old Jahshua Francis, who was riding a moped, and his pillion passenger Sobhan Khan, 18, after his “prized” red Mustang was damaged.

He drunkenly chased their scooter at nearly double the speed limit on the wrong side of the road after a bottle was thrown at his sports car.

Mr Khan was flung in the air and Bradley Clifford continued the attack as he lay on the street, punching him hard nine times, the Old Bailey heard.

Bradley Clifford was sentenced at the Old Bailey six years ago and was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 23 years for murder and seven years for the attack on Mr Francis, to run concurrently.

How he was found

Clifford was found in a cemetery in the Hilly Fields area of Enfield around 6pm on Wednesday evening.

Police said he was injured, but added that no shots were fired by officers.

Sky News pictures showed Clifford being stretchered out of Lavender Hill Cemetery, which had seen a significant police presence in the afternoon, including armed officers.

Clifford received medical treatment in the cemetery, which is close to his home.

He was then taken by ambulance to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.

What happened in Bushey?

Police were called to a detached house in Ashlyn Close, in northern Bushey, near Watford, just before 7pm on Tuesday.

When they arrived alongside ambulance staff they found three women with “serious injuries”.

According to Hertfordshire Constabulary: “Sadly, despite their best efforts, the women, who are believed to be related, died a short time later at the scene.”

Victims were targeted

The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, who was the wife of racing commentator John Hunt, and their two daughters Hannah Hunt, 28, and Louise Hunt, 25, it was revealed on Wednesday afternoon.

They were still alive when emergency services arrived.

Mr Hunt works for both the BBC and Sky Sports Racing.

Sky Sports Racing said in a statement on Wednesday: “Everyone at Sky Sports Racing is deeply saddened by the tragic deaths in Hertfordshire and our thoughts are with our colleague John Hunt, his family and friends at this awful time.”

Chief Superintendent Jon Simpson said at a news conference that police believe it was a “targeted incident”.

Policing commentator Graham Wettone says this means it is very likely the victims and suspect were well known to each other.

Derek Turner, a resident of the same street, said the arrival of around 10 police cars and ambulance crews was “like an explosion in the street”.

He told Sky News officers were dressed in “black uniforms with sort of semi-automatic guns walking around”, causing him to mistake the callout for a terrorist incident.

The road was cordoned off, with a blue tent erected outside the front door of the property.

At the news conference in Hatfield on Wednesday lunchtime, Chief Supt Simpson confirmed police believe a crossbow was used in the attack, but “other weapons may also have been used”.

The Crossbow Act 1987 allows anyone over the age of 18 to buy one – with the only major restriction being they cannot be used on animals.

Earlier this year, the Home Office launched a call for evidence to see if further legislation is needed after their use in several murders in the UK.

School pupils kept inside

During the news conference in Hatfield, Chief Supt Simpson said “extensive police resources” had been deployed in both Hertfordshire and north London.

They include armed officers and specialist search teams, he added.

Pupils at St Michael’s Primary School in Enfield were also being kept inside as a precaution.

The school’s headteacher told Sky News the police had conducted a reassurance visit and told them to “continue as normal as possible”.