British police were hunting for a man believed to be armed with a crossbow on Wednesday after three women were killed in a house near London. The BBC said the women killed were the family of its main radio racing commentator John Hunt.
Hertfordshire Police said Kyle Clifford, 26, was being sought over the suspected triple murder.
Police said the three women – ages 25, 28 and 61 – were found seriously injured in a house in Bushey, northwest of London, on Tuesday evening. Police and ambulance crews tried to save them, but they were pronounced dead at the scene.
BBC Radio 5 live said the victims were Carol Hunt, wife of its commentator John Hunt, and two of their daughters.
John Hunt is BBC radio’s main horse racing commentator, his voice known to millions through his coverage of the world-famous Grand National and The Derby. British media say that he found the bodies early on Tuesday evening after returning home from reporting at Lingfield Park racecourse, which is just south of London.
Friends and colleagues of Hunt expressed their shock at the news.
“Impossible to comprehend the pain. Just know we are all here for you, John. We love you pal – racing loves you,” ITV horse racing commentator Matt Chapman said on X.
Chief Superintendent Jon Simpson of Herfordshire Police said the incident involved a crossbow and other weapons.
“The manhunt also involves armed police officers and specialist search teams responding at pace in the wake of what has been an horrific incident,” Simpson said.
“Our overarching objective today is to protect public safety and to locate Kyle Clifford, who is wanted in connection with the murder of the three women in what we believe is a targeted incident,” Simpson said.
Police did not say whether Clifford, who is from London, was connected to the women.
Clifford may still be armed, and the public was warned not to approach him.
Interior minister Yvette Cooper called the deaths “truly shocking” and said she was being kept updated about the inquiry.
One neighbour told reporters the victims were a friendly family.
“We would see them every day passing by, and they would say good morning,” she said. “It’s really sad what’s happened, very shocking.”
There is no licence required to own a crossbow in the UK, but it is illegal to carry one in public without a reasonable excuse.
Reporting by Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Reuters
