Who is Kyle Clifford? Ex-soldier captured by police after John Hunt’s family were killed in a crossbow attack

For free breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox, sign up for our breaking news emails

Sign up for our free breaking news emails

The man captured by police after a mother and two daughters were killed in a crossbow attack was a former soldier with a brother serving a life sentence for murder, it has emerged.

Kyle Clifford, 26, briefly served in the armed forces after, it is understood, a member of the Queen’s Dragoon Guards before standing down in 2022.

Police have launched a manhunt for Clifford, who had worked as a security guard, after the wife and two daughters of BBC racing commentator John Hunt were murdered at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on Tuesday.

Hunt’s wife Carol, 61, beautician Hannah, 28, and dog groomer Louise, 25, died in the “targeted” attack which involved a crossbow.

Clifford was allegedly in a relationship with Louise and police confirmed he was known to the victims.

He was being treated in hospital after armed police chased him to a cemetery in Enfield, north London, where he was found injured on Wednesday afternoon.

Born in Enfield in 1998, Clifford is considered the third of four children.

His older brother Bradley Clifford was jailed for life in 2018 after mowing down a moped and beating a teenager to death in a fit of rage after his “precious” red Ford Mustang was damaged.

He was given a minimum sentence of 23 years in prison after a trial at London’s Old Bailey heard that he relentlessly chased the moped carrying 18-year-old Soban Khan and his friend Jahshua Francis.

Mr Francis drove into oncoming traffic and tried to climb onto the pavement in a bid to escape, but he and Mr Khan, the rider, were thrown into the air when Bradley Clifford crashed into them in the early hours of August 5 2017. As Mr. Khan lay dying on the road, he then jumped out of the car and beat him to death.

The brutal attack followed a confrontation between two groups of youths outside a bar shortly after 3am that morning, the court heard.

Police searched Bradley’s former address in Rendlesham Road, Enfield, on Wednesday in search of Kyle.

A former army chief described Kyle, five years Bradley’s junior, as “immature” when he served as a soldier – the equivalent of a Dragoon Guardsman.

The British Army website states that the regiment has specialized in reconnaissance since its formation in 1685.

A picture of Kyle from his military career shows him dressed in military fatigues, carrying a gun, with camouflage paint on his face.

A military source said Sun.: “Clifford joined the army in 2019 and I was with him in basic training. When he joined the army he was immature for his age and had a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

“He struggled to understand basic military concepts, but managed to reach the standard of passing out from training.

“I heard he was (later) working in private security, so that would indicate he’s no longer in the military,” the source said.

After the army, he worked briefly for a fire and security installation company, but left last July.

Amthal, based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, said in a statement: “Kyle Clifford was employed from 22 February 2023 to 20 July 2023.

“Since he left Amthal in July 2023, I have had no further communication with Mr. Clifford.”