Crossbow killing suspect in hospital as U.K. mulls tighter laws

A man suspected of sidesplitting nan woman and daughters of a BBC power sports commentator pinch a crossbow was being treated successful a infirmary Thursday aft being recovered injured successful a cemetery immoderate 15 miles (22 kilometers) from nan segment of nan crimes.

Police had spent almost a time hunting for Kyle Clifford aft nan onslaught connected Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Hannah, 28 and Louise, 25 astatine their location successful Bushey, northwest of London. Police and ambulance crews called to nan suburban cul-de-sac connected Tuesday evening tried to prevention them, but they were pronounced dormant astatine nan scene.

After a frantic hunt crossed a swath of London’s bluish fringe, Clifford, 26, was recovered Wednesday successful nan Enfield area of northbound London, adjacent his home.

Footage from Sky News showed nan fishy being carried connected a stretcher retired of Lavender Hill Cemetery. Armed constabulary officers, forensic unit and ambulance unit had massed astir nan cemetery done nan day.

Police did not opportunity really he was injured, but stressed that they had not fired immoderate shots. They said Clifford has not yet been arrested.

“Following extended inquiries, nan fishy has been located and cipher other is being sought successful relationship pinch nan investigation astatine this time,” said Detective Inspector Justine Jenkins from nan Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit.

Police did not opportunity really aliases whether Clifford was connected to nan women, but said they believed nan onslaught was targeted. British media reported that Clifford was an ex-boyfriend of 1 of nan victims.

Jenkins said nan investigation was moving “at pace” and that general recognition of nan victims had yet to return place.

The BBC confirmed nan victims were nan family of its sports commentator John Hunt. Hunt is nan main racing commentator for BBC 5 Live, nan corporation’s main news and sports power channel. His sound is known to millions done his sum of nan world celebrated Grand National and The Derby.

Trending Now

Shocked neighbors came precocious Wednesday to laic flowers adjacent nan segment of nan attack.

“They were nan loveliest, gentlest family,” said Su Kehinde, who lives nearby. “They were nan meekest quality beings. They did not merit this. They were beautiful souls.”

People successful Britain do not request a licence to ain a crossbow, but it is forbidden to transportation 1 successful nationalist without a reasonable excuse.

The caller Labour Party government, which took agency past week, said it would “swiftly consider” findings of a precocious launched reappraisal into whether controls connected owning crossbows should beryllium tightened.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper would “look clearly, very cautiously astatine what happened yesterday – devastating events – and she will return a position successful nan adjacent future.”

The limb has been utilized successful respective high-profile crimes successful caller years. In December 2021 a would-be assailant carrying a loaded crossbow collapsed into Windsor Castle aft being encouraged by an AI chatbot to termination Queen Elizabeth II. Jaswant Singh Chail pleaded blameworthy to a treason complaint and was sentenced to 9 years successful prison.