Triple Murder Suspect in Hospital as Home Secretary Mulls Crossbow Laws

An undated image of Kyle Clifford, who was arrested in Enfield, north London, on July 10, 2024. Hertfordshire Police/via AP

A former soldier who was detained in a cemetery by police investigating a triple murder remains in hospital as the new home secretary, Yvette Cooper, considers whether to introduce new laws on crossbows in next week’s King’s Speech.

A manhunt was launched for Kyle Clifford, 26, after a crossbow attack in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on Tuesday which killed Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters, Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25.

Ms. Hunt was the wife of BBC 5 Live racing commentator John Hunt, who has a third daughter, Amy, who lives in Birmingham.

Mr. Clifford was found with unspecified injuries in Lavender Hill cemetery in Enfield, north London, on Wednesday afternoon and was taken to an unidentified hospital for treatment.

Although armed police went to the cemetery, the Metropolitan Police stressed it had not fired any shots.

The three women were found at a house in Ashlyn Close in Bushey just after 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Victims Had Been ‘Targeted’

Chief Superintendent Jon Simpson from Hertfordshire Police said he believed the women had been “targeted.”

Mr. Clifford is believed to have had a spell in the British Army but left in 2022.

Hannah and Louise Hunt were former pupils at Loreto College in St. Albans, which said in a post on social media platform X: “We extend our thoughts & prayers to the family during this most difficult time. As a Loreto Community, they will always hold a place in our heart. May they rest in peace.”

Home Secretary ‘Will Take a View in the Near Future’

Security minister Dan Jarvis told Sky News: “I know that the home secretary is looking at this literally as we speak. She’ll want to look clearly, very carefully at what happened yesterday, devastating events, and she will take a view in the near future.”

Prior to the incident in Bushey, at least six people have been killed in England and Wales in the past seven years with crossbows, which are currently legal to purchase and own.

In February, the Home Office announced plans to make it harder to obtain crossbows.

A police officer stands on guard outside Lavender Hill cemetery in Enfield, north London, on July 10, 2024. PA Wire

Buyers would be subject to strict police checks, as are already in place for firearms.

The Home Office completed the work in April but no legislation was introduced before the general election campaign began.

A Home Office spokeswoman said, “We keep legislation under constant review and a call for evidence was launched earlier this year to look at whether further controls on crossbows should be introduced.”

“The home secretary will swiftly consider the findings to see if laws need to be tightened further,” she added.

PA Media contributed to this report.