Kyle Clifford murders spark concerns over Andrew Tate content
The triple murder committed by crossbow killer Kyle Clifford showed harmful online content could "transform" into physical violence, a former culture secretary has claimed. Clifford, 26, murdered Carol, Louise and Hannah Hunt at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, in July 2024 and he was found guilty of raping Louise Hunt during the attack.Prosecutors at Cambridge Crown Court said Clifford's actions were fuelled by the "violent misogyny promoted" by controversial social media personality Andrew Tate. Baroness Nicky Morgan said the case proved "so-called legal content can absolutely be deeply, deeply harmful to others". The BBC has approached Tate for comment.
Clifford admitted murdering Carol Hunt, 61, with a butcher's knife and using a crossbow to fatally shoot Louise, 25, and 28-year-old Hannah.The attacks came two weeks after Louise Hunt ended an 18-month relationship with Clifford, from Enfield, north London.The trial heard that in the days leading up to the murders, Clifford bought the crossbow online, and a replica Glock air pistol from a shop in Essex.
Appearing on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Baroness Morgan said: "The harmful content that people see online can absolutely transform and transfer to physical, offline harm."Clifford had searched for self-described misogynist Tate's podcast the day before he carried out his four-hour attack, it was said during legal arguments ahead of his trial.This could only be reported after Clifford was found guilty of raping Louise Hunt, as Mr Justice Bennathan had excluded the evidence from the trial over concerns it would be prejudicial.Explaining his ruling, the judge said Tate was "almost a poster boy for misogynists" and the 38-year-old's prominence in recent headlines created a "great possible prejudice".Clifford's defence had also argued the Tate material he accessed was too vague a link.
Baroness Morgan said challenges remained over how broadcast watchdog Ofcom monitored platforms such as podcasts.She said: "In this case, interestingly, yes, there was a video, but I think a lot of the Tate content is now delivered via podcasts."I think that's a whole new area for the regulator to have to look at."Prosecutors said Clifford arrived at the Hunt family home at 14:32 BST on 9 July, under the guise of dropping off Louise Hunt's belongings, before stabbing Carol.He laid in wait for Louise Hunt to come inside the property before taping her ankles and wrists, raping and ultimately murdering her.Hannah Hunt was murdered after arriving home from work at about 18:50.Clifford will be sentenced at the same court on Tuesday.
Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
15 hours ago
- Telegraph
BBC Arabic apologises for claiming Jews spit on Christians in ‘holiday ritual'
The BBC has been forced to apologise following claims by its Arabic service that Jews spit on Christians in a 'holiday ritual'. Claims were made in a video released by the corporation alongside an article titled 'Sukkot: Spitting and Assault on Christians and Harassment of Muslims on the Jewish Holiday'. In the video, released in October 2023, a caption claimed observant Jews celebrated their religious holiday, Sukkot, in Israel by spitting on Christians. After the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (Camera) complained to the BBC, the caption was corrected to say: 'Some observant Jews consider spitting on Christians a holiday ritual.' However, Camera had to wait 19 months for a written apology to be issued. In the correspondence, the BBC said: 'We apologise for the errors and thank you for your patience in waiting for this reply/confirmation of corrections that were made in October 2023.' The footage sparked outrage after ultra-Orthodox Jews could be seen spitting on the ground alongside a procession of foreign Christian worshippers carrying a wooden cross in Jerusalem. The spitting scene, captured by a reporter at Israel's Haaretz newspaper, showed a group of foreign pilgrims beginning their procession through the limestone labyrinth of the Old City. They were retracing the steps along the route they believe Jesus took before his crucifixion, raising a giant wooden cross. However, ultra-Orthodox Jews in dark suits and broad-brimmed black hats squeezed past the pilgrims through narrow alleyways, their ritual palm fronds for the week-long Jewish holiday of Sukkot in hand. At least seven ultra-Orthodox Jews spit on the ground beside the Christian tour group. A second BBC Arabic article, published on the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 and titled 'The story of suicide bombers throughout history: from the fanatical Jews, through Assassins, to the Jihadists', linked 'fanatical Jews' to the US terror attacks. The article describes the Sicarii, a militant Jewish group active during Roman occupation, as the earliest example of suicide attackers. It then went on to link them to modern jihadist tactics. The Sicarii seized Jerusalem with other forces during the Jewish revolt in 70AD, before retreating to Masada. However, Camera complained and argued that while the Sicarii did commit mass suicide at Masada, they did not carry out suicide attacks. Camera wrote in a complaint to the BBC: 'Since the Sicarii's attacks weren't suicidal, and their mass suicide was not an attack, they do not fit a narrative about suicide attacks at all. Yet, they are the only ones labelled 'fanatics' and 'extremists' in the entire article.' 'Material inaccuracy' The BBC executive complaints unit agreed the original article contained a 'material inaccuracy' after Camera made further complaints. In a ruling issued on April 10, they said: 'Although the Sicarii may have preferred suicide to capture, there was no evidence of their using suicide as a means of an attack.' The headline was changed to 'The Story of Suicide Bombers Throughout History: From Assassins to Jihadists'. Lord Carlile, the government's former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, condemned the piece at the time and warned the BBC about publishing 'deliberate and sometimes even casual anti-Semitism'. He told The Telegraph after the apology was issued: 'I'm glad they have apologised.' Camera also said there were six other complaints about BBC Arabic content that have not been resolved as of June 9. A Camera spokesman said: 'Having demonstrated such ignorance in covering Jewish affairs, it seems that part of the problem lies not only with the Arabic service's inability to respond to complaints on time, but also in the lack of training its staff undergo upon hiring.' Last month, the BBC announced it would appoint an independent figure to investigate its Arabic channel over repeated allegations of anti-Semitism exposed by The Telegraph. The Telegraph has previously revealed a number of BBC Arabic's contributors have posted anti-Jewish sentiments and expressed their apparent support for Hamas, both before and after the Oct 7 attacks. Speaking to Times Radio in May, Dr Samir Shah, the chairman of the BBC, said: ' The Arabic service, we are looking at it, we've been examining it. I think this whole business of how we've covered Israel-Gaza is a proper thing to examine thoroughly, which is why we're going to identify... we're going to get hold of an independent figure to look at our coverage.'
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
'Scots' suspect arrested over Spain 'gangland' shooting of Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr
He is now facing extradition to Spain so he can be questioned about the May 31 murders. Any extradition would have to be approved by a UK court. A man arrested in connection with a "gangland" shooting in Spain is believed to be Scottish. Spanish police have confirmed a man, believed to be in his 40s, has been arrested in the UK on suspicion of the Costa del Sol gangland execution of Scots mobsters Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr. The BBC reported earlier this morning the suspect was taken into custody in Liverpool by Merseyside Police under an international arrest warrant issued by the Spanish authorities. Spanish cops have yet to make a formal statement. But a well-placed Spanish police source said today when asked about the arrest: 'The specialist UDYCO Costa del Sol police group which is leading the investigation has identified this man. 'As they couldn't find him in the places where they thought he could have been in Malaga, they asked a court in Fuengirola which has opened a judicial probe into the shootings to issue an international arrest warrant for this man. 'Police in the UK have arrested the man in Liverpool under this international warrant.' He is now facing extradition to Spain so he can be questioned about the May 31 murders. Any extradition would have to be approved by a UK court. The suspect's return to Spain would be delayed if he decides to oppose extradition. Spanish officials said days after the murders they had 'no doubt' they would catch the gunman who shot dead Monaghan and Lyons Jnr. Javier Salas was the first Spanish government representative to confirm the victims were Scottish after the horror shooting at Monaghan's Irish pub Monaghans Fuengirola. And he spoke again three days later to say he was convinced police would find and arrest the culprit. Graphic CCTV footage first published by Spanish TV showed one of the two men murdered being cornered inside the premises and shot in the chest and stomach from close range. The killer, dressed in black, was filmed shooting Glaswegian Ross Monaghan, 43, dead after targeting his pal Lyons Jnr outside the pub seconds earlier as terrified tourists and locals ran for cover. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Spanish police sources confirmed they believed the killer was blond following claims detectives haven't commented on that he could also be Scottish. He fled on foot but was driven from the scene by an accomplice in a car waiting nearby which headed along the old N340 dual carriageway east towards the resort of Benalmadena. Officers from the elite Spanish National Police Costa del Sol-based Anti-Drug and Organised Crime Unit UDYCO have headed the ongoing probe, although they are reporting to a Fuengirola-based investigating judge coordinating the operation. Career criminal Monaghan, who fled Scotland for Spain after a failed attempt on his life outside a Glasgow primary school in 2017, was tried but acquitted over the murder of notorious Glasgow hood Kevin 'Gerbil' Carroll at an Asda car park in 2010. In August 2017 he and Eddie Lyons Jr, both members of the Lyons Glasgow crime family, were cleared of being involved in a brutal street attack on three men outside the Campsie bar in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire. The shooting in Spain came amid a violent gang war that has ripped through Scotland since March said to have started over a fallout over drugs. However Police Scotland have said they have no intelligence to link the shootings to the feud.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Major development in double murder of UK gangsters in holiday hotspot
Police in Spain have confirmed a man has been arrested in the UK on suspicion of the Costa del Sol shootings of gangsters Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr. The BBC has reported the suspect was taken into custody in Liverpool by Merseyside Police under an international arrest warrant issued by the Spanish authorities. Spanish cops have yet to make a formal statement. But a well-placed Spanish police source said today when asked about the arrest: 'The specialist UDYCO Costa del Sol police group which is leading the investigation has identified this man. 'As they couldn't find him in the places where they thought he could have been in Malaga, they asked a court in Fuengirola which has opened a judicial probe into the shootings to issue an international arrest warrant for this man. 'Police in the UK have arrested the man in Liverpool under this international warrant.' No details have yet emerged about the suspect's age or nationality. He is now facing extradition to Spain so he can be questioned about the May 31 murders. The suspect's return to Spain would be delayed if he decides to oppose officials said days after the murders they had 'no doubt' they would catch the gunman who shot dead Monaghan and Lyons Jnr. Javier Salas was the first Spanish government representative to confirm the victims were Scottish after the horror shooting at Monaghan's Irish pub Monaghans Fuengirola. And he spoke again three days later to say he was convinced police would find and arrest the culprit. Graphic CCTV footage first published by Spanish TV showed one of the two men murdered being cornered inside the premises and shot in the chest and stomach from close range. The killer, dressed in black, was filmed shooting Glaswegian Ross Monaghan, 43, dead after targeting his pal Lyons Jnr outside the pub seconds earlier as terrified tourists and locals ran for cover. Spanish police sources confirmed they believed the killer was blond following claims detectives haven't commented on that he could also be Scottish. He fled on foot but was driven from the scene by an accomplice in a car waiting nearby which headed along the old N340 dual carriageway east towards the resort of Benalmadena. Officers from the elite Spanish National Police Costa del Sol-based Anti-Drug and Organised Crime Unit UDYCO have headed the ongoing probe, although they are reporting to a Fuengirola-based investigating judge coordinating the operation. Career criminal Monaghan, who fled Scotland for Spain after a failed attempt on his life outside a Glasgow primary school in 2017, was tried but acquitted over the murder of notorious Glasgow hood Kevin 'Gerbil' Carroll at an Asda car park in 2010. In August 2017 he and Eddie Lyons Jr, both members of the Lyons Glasgow crime family, were cleared of being involved in a brutal street attack on three men outside the Campsie bar in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire. The shooting in Spain came amid a violent gang war that has ripped through Scotland since March said to have started over a fallout over drugs. The gun murders followed the fatal shooting nearly seven weeks ago of a 32-year-old British man in nearby Calahonda a 15-minute drive from the Irish bar towards Marbella. He was shot dead around 8pm on April 21 in a professional hit as he headed back to his car after finishing a football match with friends. The killers fled in a getaway car that was later torched. Police are investigating the brutal assassination as a drug-related gang shooting but have yet to make any arrests. The victim has not been named but was known to come from Liverpool. Reports at the time described the incident as the fourth shooting so far that month on the Costa del Sol, where rival gangs have increasingly used extreme violence to settle scores and a number of international mafias are known to have a base. Four days before the Calahonda shooting a 34-year-old man was rushed to the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella after being shot outside a nightclub in the famous Costa del Sol resort.
