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
Hannah Hunt was a 'very happy little soul'published at 13:13 British Summer Time 11 July
13:13 BST 11 July
Image source, PA MediaIn Bushey, more than 50 friends and members of the local community attended a special service at St James’s Church.
Sally Golding, who knew Hannah Hunt as her beautician, said: “I felt I needed to come today.”
“Hannah was just a really, really lovely, bubbly person - with a great personality. She was a sweet girl, a very happy little soul."
House being searched is linked to suspect's brotherpublished at 12:58 British Summer Time 11 July
12:58 BST 11 July
We had heard about further searches taking place at a house in Rendlesham Road, Enfield, in north London.
According to PA Media the house is linked to Kyle Clifford's brother, Bradley Clifford, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 23 years for murder in 2018.
'It's the thing nightmares are made of'published at 12:41 British Summer Time 11 July
12:41 BST 11 July
Lea Holloway - a childhood friend of Carol Hunt - was one of several people in tears as she left the church.
“I’ll miss Carol like crazy," she said.
Image source, PA Media"We were really close friends. I met her when she was quite young and we grew up together and we were pregnant at the same time. She was a sweet, kind girl who always thought about family - very family orientated.
"Just a lovely, lovely girl. It’s the thing nightmares are made of.
"I feel for their oldest daughter and John. I can’t imagine what it must feel like.
See AlsoSugden, warme en heldere geluidskwaliteit - Hifi CornerSugden Masterclass ANV-50 integrated amplifierSugden A21SE & CD21SEJohn Hunt family latest: Bushey crossbow suspect Kyle Clifford in 'serious condition' in hospital, say police"She was the nicest, kindest, sweetest person you could ever meet."
‘It was really scary’ - local mumpublished at 12:26 British Summer Time 11 July
12:26 BST 11 July
Mollie Perella
BBC Newsbeat, reporting from Bushey, HertfordshireIn Bushey this morning, I met a young mum out for a walk with her baby and dog.
They usually go out every morning, but the mum,who did not want to give her name, said she was "scared to go outyesterday”.
“There was a police helicopter circling allmorning. It was quite ominous," she says.
“The road is next door to where my son’s goingto be going to nursery and it was in lockdown.
“It was really scary.”
Image source, PA MediaLike other residents I’ve spoken to she describes how Bushey is normally a quiet and unassuming place.
Before suspect Kyle Clifford was detained, she said her neighbourhood WhatsApp group was full of messages.
“Everyone was messaging yesterday - just saying stay safe and keep your eyes out,” she says.
Kyle Clifford was former boyfriend of Hunt daughterpublished at 12:14 British Summer Time 11 July
12:14 BST 11 July
The BBC understands suspect Kyle Clifford, who remains in hospital after being found with injuries yesterday, is a former boyfriend of one of the young women from the Hunt family.
Kyle Clifford's former employer releases statementpublished at 12:05 British Summer Time 11 July
12:05 BST 11 July
Bosses at a former employer of Kyle Clifford - detained as a suspect over the crossbow attacks - say they have not communicated with him since he left the company last year.
Officials at Amthal, a fire and security installation company, based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, said in a statement: "Kyle Clifford was employed from 22 February 2023 to 20 July 2023.Since he departed from Amthal in July 2023, we have had no further communication with Mr Clifford."
Hannah and Louise's former school pays tributepublished at 11:51 British Summer Time 11 July
11:51 BST 11 July
Loreto College in St Albans, Hertfordshire, has said it is mourning the loss of Hannah and Louise Hunt, who were former students.
The said in a post on X, external: "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."
Rector of Bushey talks of communitypublished at 11:38 British Summer Time 11 July
11:38 BST 11 July
Frankie McCamley
Reporting from Bushey, HertfordshireThe Reverend David Stevenson, the Rector of Bushey, said the deaths of three women has brought the community together as "one big family".
Father Stevenson, who is hosting a vigil at St James's Church, told PA news agency: "Today is very much about supporting the community.
"This might sound strange but [this tragedy] has actually strengthened the community and brought it together, which is a wonderful thing.
"We realise that we are just one big family."
Image source, Frankie McCamley/BBCBushey residents gather for a church servicepublished at 11:14 British Summer Time 11 July
11:14 BST 11 July
Frankie McCamley
Reporting from Bushey, HertfordshireMore than 50 people are gathering in St James's Church in Bushey to pay their respects to a family some of them knew their whole lives.
Many are arriving in tears, too upset to talk. Local councillors and representatives from many faiths are here to show their support.
Image source, Frankie McCamley/BBCNeighbours leave cards and flowerspublished at 11:10 British Summer Time 11 July
11:10 BST 11 July
Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from Ashlyn CloseA police cordon remains at Ashlyn Close, with three police officers standing close by.
Beyond them the investigation work continues at the house where Carole, Louise and Hannah Hunt, died in what police called a “horrific” and “targeted” incident.
The number of bouquets left in memory of the victims has grown overnight.
“Rest in peace Carol, Hannah and Louise,” one of the cards reads.
“This is heartbreaking,” says another.
Image source, PA MediaMore searches at property in Enfieldpublished at 11:03 British Summer Time 11 July
11:03 BST 11 July
Further searches have been seen taking place at a house in Rendlesham Road, Enfield, on Thursday morning, in relation to the deaths of three women in Bushey.
Police staff wearing gloves and face masks were seen outside the property, which was first searched on Wednesday.
Ashlyn Close this morningpublished at 10:43 British Summer Time 11 July
10:43 BST 11 July
Russell Newlove
Reporting from BusheyThe amount of flowers being left at Ashlyn Close is growing. Neighbours of the Hunt family are leaving bouquets and messages of condolence. “I wish none of this were real,” reads one.
The flowers sit beneath a police cordon, still in place nearly 36 hours since the police were first called. Five uniformed officers are guarding entrance to the cul-de-sac. Journalists are not being allowed in and pedestrians and drivers are being signed in and out by the officers.
Image source, Russell Newlove/BBCJockeys wear black armbandspublished at 09:52 British Summer Time 11 July
09:52 BST 11 July
Jockeys at Kempton Park Racecourse are wearing black armbands to show support for John Hunt, the racing commentator whose wife and two daughters were killed in Bushey, Hertfordshire.
Newmarket Racecourse in Suffolk will be holding a minute's silence this afternoon in memory of the victims.
Image source, Getty ImagesPolice to provide update on triple killingpublished at 09:39 British Summer Time 11 July
09:39 BST 11 July
Hertfordshire Police says it will release an update on the investigation later this morning.
Image source, Russell Newlove/BBCSecurity minister says changes could be made to crossbow lawspublished at 09:28 British Summer Time 11 July
09:28 BST 11 July
The security minister Dan Jarvis has told the BBC the government will "move at pace" to decide whether changes need to be made to the law on crossbows.
He told the BBC: "We are mortified about what happened, we are desperately sad for the family as a result of what happened in Bushey.
He added that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper would be considering the events in Bushey, as well as evidence from the previous government's work on the issue.
He said this would be "real priority for the Home Secretary".
Hannah Hunt's colleagues pay tribute to 'fantastic therapist'published at 09:20 British Summer Time 11 July
09:20 BST 11 July
Hannah Hunt's colleagues who worked with her at a skin clinic have expressed their "deep regret and sadness" over her death.
The Anti-Ageing Clinic in Radlett, Hertfordshire, said on social media that "she was a fantastic therapist and clients loved her".
The post continued: "We send our condolences and prayers to her Dad, sister and family.
"She was very much a part of our team. Please bear with us at this terrible time."
Image source, Hannah Hunt/Social mediaBushey quiet this morning - BBC reporterpublished at 09:05 British Summer Time 11 July
09:05 BST 11 July
Russell Newlove
ReporterI walked from Bushey station this morning and you would not think anything out of the ordinary had happened.
Less than 24 hours ago, schools as far as Southgate - some 12 miles away - were under lockdown and parents were told to pick up their children early, while police hunted a man potentially armed with a crossbow.
Today, in Bushey, children are walking to school unaccompanied. But in the surrounding streets, it is quiet. The police cordon is still up.
Image source, Russell Newlove/BBCSuspected firearm incident in Watford 'not linked' to triple killing - policepublished at 08:45 British Summer Time 11 July
08:45 BST 11 July
Hertfordshire Police says an incident involving reports of a firearm at Watford High Street station "is not linked to the murder investigation in Bushey".
The force said officers were called just before 16:00 on 10 July to reports of an "altercation" at the station, where members of the public said they had seen someone with "what was possibly a firearm".
A man was found with a minor cut to his head.
Police officers believe the attack was "targeted" but have increased patrols in the area.
Image source, PA Media'These are dangerous weapons, unbelievable lethal'published at 08:37 British Summer Time 11 July
08:37 BST 11 July
A woman whose partner was killed in a crossbow attack says a licensing system should be introduced for the weapons.
Laura Sugden's partner Shane Gilmer was shot in 2018.
On the Today programme on BBC Radio Four, she said: "Three people lost their lives yesterday and if that's not enough to now stop and think that these are dangerous weapons, unbelievable lethal - we need to be looking to do something.
"Put some legislation in, bring them in line with firearms and try and prevent future deaths."
Image source, FamilyVigil to be held for the Hunt family in Busheypublished at 08:27 British Summer Time 11 July
08:27 BST 11 July
A church in Bushey has said it will hold a vigil for the Hunt family at 11:00.
The Parish of St James and St Paul said: "Our community has been rocked by the tragic murders of Carol, Hannah and Louise.
"We will remember them today and pray for John and his family and friends who will be trying to make sense of what has happened.
"We respect their privacy in this time of grief and pray for ourselves and our community, that we may grow closer together in love and respect for all. Everyone is welcome, those with faith and those without."
