Alps Shootings: French Inquiry Focuses On UK

French prosecutor Eric Maillaud, who has arrived in the UK, says the causes of the Alps shootings "have their origins in this country".

Speaking from Surrey police headquarters, he said that the French region of Annecy was "only the unfortunate site for this drama", which saw three Britons killed while they were on holiday in the Alps.

"Without any doubt the reasons and the causes have their origins in this country," Mr Maillaud said.

He added: "It is only by being together that we will find the murderers."

Mr Maillaud made the comments as he travelled to the UK to join a small number of French investigators, already here to investigate the tragedy.

He and examining magistrate Michel Mollin, another senior member of the inquiry team, met officers from Surrey Police at Woking police station to discuss the case.

Mr Maillaud is expected to visit the family home in Claygate, Surrey, as part of his 24-hour trip in the UK and will also meet police officers and Crown Prosecution Service officials.

Mr al Hilli, 50, and his dentist wife Iqbal, 47, were murdered along with her mother in a remote spot close to Lake Annecy a week ago.

The couple's four-year-old daughter Zeena lay undiscovered under her mother's corpse for eight hours afterwards, while her seven-year-old sister Zainab was found with serious injuries after being shot and beaten.

French cyclist Sylvain Mollier, 45, who is believed to have stumbled across the scene, was also shot dead.

Assistant Chief Constable Rob Price, who is leading the Surrey Police team, met the French team.

He said: "As I stated previously, this is a French-led investigation. Surrey Police and other agencies within Surrey will do all we can to support this investigation.

"Inevitably, when you have different jurisdictions, there will be complexities and challenges."

Mr Maillaud said on Wednesday that 40 French police officers were working on the complex case, focussing on three areas - Mr al Hilli's work, his family and his native Iraq - to find a motive for the killings.

French police believe the car could hold vital clues to the killer. Scientists who examined the Mercedes in which Princess Diana died are examining the al Hilli family's BMW and have sent it to the Institute of Criminal Research near Paris.

A number of witnesses have come forward in Annecy including a hiker, named only as Philippe D, 41, who arrived at the site of the massacre minutes after the attack. He likened the carnage to a horrific film scene.

Detailed ballistic analysis of 25 spent cartridges found at the scene suggests they came from a 7.65mm automatic pistol. The gun has been described as an old-fashioned weapon but one that is still sometimes used by special forces.

It was previously reported that the gunman may have used a machine gun called a Skorpion.

Mr Mollin and Mr Maillaud have been briefing Surrey police officers on the procedures they would like them to follow through the investigation.

It is a French-led inquiry, but is being heavily supported by officers and staff from the Surrey force.

Once the men leading the investigation have returned to France, a small team of French detectives will remain based at Woking police station.

A French police source told Sky News the detectives would be based there for "as long as necessary".