Residents in a “quiet little road” were left in shock as armed police, dogs, and a police helicopter descended on their neighbourhood.
Herts Police and the East of England Ambulance Service were called to a property in Ashlyn Close, Bushey, Hertfordshire, just before 7pm last night (July 9) and found three women with serious injuries, who died at the scene shortly afterward.
The force is now looking for 26-year-old Kyle Clifford from the Enfield area who is wanted in connection with the triple murder, and may be carrying a weapon.
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Neighbours were settling down to watch the Euros when they heard a huge number of police cars.
“We had all the police cars, the armed police... lots of armed police, the helicopter,” an Ashlyn Close resident, who did not want to be named, said.
“It was around seven, just before the game started.”
She described how “roughly 20” emergency vehicles closed off the road as officers ran down to the house.
“We were told to stay inside and told to close our doors,” the neighbour added.
“They knocked on the door and asked us, ‘did we hear anything?’.
“We never heard anything because we were watching the TV. I think by the time police arrived he was gone.”
The three women are believed to be related. Police asked that the victims’ family’s privacy is respected “as they come to terms with what has happened".
The neighbour said: “It’s really sad. Ashlyn Close is a very small road its really shocking…absolutely shocking and I feel sorry for the family.
“I’m so sad for the family. It’s a shocking thing to happen. Its just a quiet little area.”
Other members of the public described seeing a helicopter landing at The Royal Connaught Park and police cars lining Bushey Hall Road, near the entrance to Ashlyn Close and Grove Hall Road.
Riaz, lives nearby and declined to give his second name, said: “My wife called me while I was at work, saying ‘there are so many police cars down the road which I’ve never seen before’, and she was distressed.
“I didn’t know (what had happened) at that point, then at that very moment my nephew phoned me saying something tragic had happened and was I OK? I came early evening and I saw the cars and realised something tragic had happened.”
Riaz, who is in his 50s, added: “It’s a serene, quiet road, but there was over a dozen cars here. It’s quite disturbing, but any tragedy like this has a bearing on how you feel."
He added: “This has been an awful situation and I can’t even imagine what the family must be going through.
“My wife and I walk down that road often and it is quiet. It is surprising, especially in the magnitude. To have three individuals who have been tragically killed, it is tragic.”
Another Ashlyn Close resident said they were unable to park around the corner overnight as they were not allowed to park in their driveway due to a police cordon.
Detective superintendent Hall added: “This incident will of course be of concern to local residents.
"Officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team will be in the area today so please do speak to them if you need to.”
Bushey North councillors Louise Nicolas, Alan Matthews, and Paul Richards said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic news that three women have lost their lives in a violent incident which took place in the heart of our local community.
"We extend our thoughts and condolences to their families and all those affected," they added.
“We would encourage anyone who has information relevant to the inquiry to contact police.”
Anyone who sees Kyle Clifford is asked not to approach and to call 999 “straight away”.
Information can be reported online at herts.police.uk/report, or by calling the non-emergency number 101, quoting Op Infauna.
Anonymous information can be shared by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 55 111.
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Carol Hunt, 61, Hannah Hunt, 28, and Louise Hunt, 25, are understood to have died following an attack at their Bushey home on Tuesday. Leave your messages here.
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