A mother and her two children have been found dead at a property and a suspect who was known to the victims is believed to have left the country.
On Monday, 6 July, Bedfordshire Police responded to reports of concerns for a mother and her two children who had not been seen for several days in Great Denham, Bedfordshire.
They were found after officers forced their way into a house in Carnoustie Drive on Monday.
A suspect has been identified but is thought to have fled the country. Formal identification of the victims has not yet taken place.
A police spokesperson said the murder investigation has now been launched by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit and specialist teams are being deployed, along with increased patrols from uniformed officers in the Great Denham area.
Assistant Chief Constable John Murphy said: “This is a deeply distressing incident in which a mother and her two children are believed to have been murdered.
“Our thoughts are first and foremost with all those affected.
“We recognise that this will cause concern in the local community and beyond.
“This is the early stages of what is an incredibly complex investigation.
“We are committing all necessary resources to establish exactly what has happened and to find the person responsible.
“As a result of inquiries undertaken so far, we have identified a suspect, who was known to all three victims, and who we believe has since left the country.
“While there is nothing to suggest there is any wider risk to the public, we will be increasing the police presence in and around the area to support the investigation and provide reassurance to residents.
“I would ask anyone who may have information about this incident, or who may have heard or seen any suspicious activity in Carnoustie Drive, particularly on Friday and Saturday, to please come forward to police as soon as possible. Any information, no matter how small, could help our investigation.
“I would also ask people to be mindful of the privacy of the victims and avoid speculating about what might have happened.”
Bedfordshire Police has encourage anyone with information with should contact police via the webchat service on www.beds.police.uk or call 101 quoting Operation Snowdrift.
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