Police launch urgent manhunt following death of three women

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Detectives have launched an urgent manhunt for a person wanted in connection with the deaths of three women as they warned the public that he may still be armed.

Police fear that 26-year-old Kyle Clifford may be in possession of a crossbow, a spokesman confirmed to The Independent.

Shortly before 7pm on Tuesday, officers were called to Ashlyn Close, Bushey, Hertfordshire and found three seriously injured women.

Despite the efforts of the paramedics, the women, who were presumably relatives, died at the scene of the accident a short time later.

Hertfordshire Police spent the night searching for Clifford, from the Enfield area, who is believed to be in Hertfordshire or north London.

Police have asked anyone who knows his whereabouts to contact police immediately. They have advised the public not to approach him and to call 999.

Detective Superintendent Rob Hall, of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Serious Crime Unit, said: “This is an incredibly difficult incident for the victims’ family and we ask that their privacy is respected while they come to terms with what has happened.

“Although we are still in the early stages of this investigation, we are actively searching for Kyle Clifford, who we believe may be in the Hertfordshire or North London area.

“Given the seriousness of the incident, I would ask anyone who knows where he is to contact police immediately. If you think you see him, please do not approach him and call 999 immediately. He may still be in possession of a weapon.

“Our investigation will continue over the next few days to establish the exact circumstances of the incident. However, I would also like to take this opportunity to ask anyone who was in the Ashlyn Close area between Tuesday lunchtime and 7pm and believes they saw anything that could assist the investigation to please contact us.

“This incident will obviously cause concern to local residents. Officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team will be in the area today, so please speak to them if you need to.”

Councillors Louise Nicolas, Alan Matthews and Paul Richards, who are responsible for the area, said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic news that three women have lost their lives in a violent incident in the heart of our community.

“As North Bushey councillors, we extend our condolences and sympathy to their families and all those affected.

“We encourage anyone with information relevant to the investigation to contact police.”

A neighbour at the crime scene in Bushey, who wished to remain anonymous, said she did not know the victims well but they were family friends.

“We saw them walking by every day and they said good morning,” she said.

“It’s really sad what happened, very shocking.”

Another neighbor, Riaz, who is in his 50s and did not want to give his last name, said: “It was a terrible situation and I can’t imagine what the family must be going through.”

Further information on this breaking news will follow…