Triple murder investigation launched after three people die in flat

Police search an area close to the high-rise building where a suspect was arrested
Police search an area close to the high-rise building where a suspect was arrested - Tom Bowles

A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murder after three people died in a flat in Bedfordshire.

At around 5.30am, officers were called to reports of concerns for welfare at a flat on the 15-storey Leabank block on the Marsh Farm estate in Luton.

Emergency services attended, and three people were found with injuries. All died at the scene, Bedfordshire Police said.

An 18-year-old man was arrested nearby in Bramingham Road a short time later and remains in custody for questioning following the incident, about three miles north of the town centre. A firearm was recovered from the property, police said.

The force said it believed there was no threat to the wider community, and Assistant Chief Constable John Murphy said: “At this stage, we are not looking for anybody else”.

Investigators in forensic clothing had been seen in a nearby field, and Asst Chief Constable Murphy said searches in the area had resulted in the “recovery of a weapon”.

Asked about a police cordon outside, he said the incident itself took place entirely within the block of flats, adding: “There is a slightly wider search that was completed in order to locate and arrest the suspect. The area which has been cordoned in the wider area is likely to be the place where that arrest was made.”

The 15-storey Leabank high-rise on the Marsh Farm estate, where emergency services found three people who were badly injured and subsequently pronounced dead at the scene
The 15-storey Leabank high-rise on the Marsh Farm estate, where emergency services found three people who were badly injured and subsequently pronounced dead at the scene - Hyde News & Pictures

Asst Chief Constable Murphy said officers were called in response to a “report of a disturbance called into us by a member of the public”.

He said: “Officers deployed to the address concerned immediately, and sadly upon arrival we found three people who had been very badly injured. Sadly, all of those three people were subsequently pronounced dead at the scene.

“We’ve immediately launched a murder investigation, deploying officers from our specialist crime team within our major crime unit. As a result of the inquiries that we’ve completed this morning, at a very early stage we’ve been able to identify and arrest an individual.”

People who live in the building said they woke up early on Friday to see police outside.

“I woke up to my boys screaming in the morning. Looking out the window, I saw police everywhere,” Davy Bridgestock told the BBC.

“I didn’t know what to do, whether to leave the block of flats or not. It’s pretty scary when you have kids in a block of flats. Normally, it’s quite quiet – everyone normally says hello, it’s friendly.”

‘It’s not nice at all’

Mia, another resident, woke up at 5.30am to the sounds of shouting and sirens. She said: “I didn’t think anything of it... I thought something was going on further up. It wasn’t until I left my home this morning I saw the police.

“It’s very gut-wrenching to hear something like that happen on your doorstep. It’s not nice at all. It’s very sad.”

Other residents said they were in a lift with armed police as they took their children to school. On Facebook, one wrote: “Raid van turned up with more officers, over 12 police cars there this morning with at least three ambulances.”

The investigation is being led by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit.

Detective Superintendent Rob Hall said: “This is a truly appalling incident. We understand this news will be incredibly shocking, but please be assured we will work tirelessly to establish the full circumstances surrounding these deaths.

“One man has been arrested in connection with the incident, and we do not believe there is any threat to the wider community.

“However, we appreciate people will be concerned, so there will be an increased presence of community police officers in and around the area today and over the coming days to answer questions and provide reassurance.”