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British Police Evacuate Area Around Murder Victims’ Home British Police Evacuate Area Around Murder Victims’ Home
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — In a further twist to a story of murder and mystery that has seized headlines for days in France and Britain, the British police said on Monday that they had evacuated an area around the home of a British-Iraqi family targeted in last week’s killing in the French Alps.LONDON — In a further twist to a story of murder and mystery that has seized headlines for days in France and Britain, the British police said on Monday that they had evacuated an area around the home of a British-Iraqi family targeted in last week’s killing in the French Alps.
News reports said a British Army bomb disposal unit spent about two hours at the house, but the results of its search were not clear. Officers called a British Army bomb disposal unit which spent about two hours at the house before the police said no hazardous objects had been found and residents who had been ordered to leave their homes were told they could return. Three members of the family were shot to death in their BMW sedan, while a fourth victim — a French cyclist — also died in the bloody episode near the lakeside town of Annecy. Almost a week later, the motive for the attack on Sept. 5 remained unclear. Two children traveling in the same car survived, one of them after being beaten and another who hid undetected under a body for eight hours after the shooting. The family had been on vacation, staying in a nearby holiday trailer park.
Three members of the family were shot to death, while a fourth victim — a French cyclist — also died in the bloody episode near the lakeside town of Annecy. The motive for the attack remained unclear. Two children traveling in the same car survived, one of them after being beaten and another who hid undetected under a body for eight hours after the shooting. The family had been on vacation, staying in a nearby holiday trailer park.
The French and British police have focused on the crime scene in France and the family home of the victims — Saad al-Hilli, 50, his wife, Iqbal, a dentist, and her mother — in the affluent village of Claygate south of London in the Surrey countryside.The French and British police have focused on the crime scene in France and the family home of the victims — Saad al-Hilli, 50, his wife, Iqbal, a dentist, and her mother — in the affluent village of Claygate south of London in the Surrey countryside.
Zainab al-Hilli, a 7-year-old daughter, was wounded but has regained consciousness, while her 4-year-old sister, Zeena, hid behind her mother’s body. The French police say they want to question the elder sister about what happened once she is no longer under sedation. According to French accounts, the bodies and survivors were discovered by a British tourist and Royal Air Force veteran who placed the seven-year-old in the recovery position before calling for help. Zainab al-Hilli, a 7-year-old daughter, was wounded but has regained consciousness, while her 4-year-old sister, Zeena, hid behind her mother’s body. The French police say they want to question the elder sister about what happened once she is no longer under sedation.
According to French accounts, the bodies and survivors were discovered by a British tourist and Royal Air Force veteran who administered first-aid to the seven-year-old before calling for help.
The French authorities have been criticized over the delay before the 4-year-old was discovered. Officials have responded by saying that local officers were awaiting the arrival of forensic experts from Paris and did not wish to risk contaminating the crime scene.The French authorities have been criticized over the delay before the 4-year-old was discovered. Officials have responded by saying that local officers were awaiting the arrival of forensic experts from Paris and did not wish to risk contaminating the crime scene.
A French cyclist, identified in British press reports as Sylvain Mollier, 45, was also killed. His body was found near the British family’s car at a secluded parking area in what investigators have depicted as part of the same shooting spree, possibly when he arrived there coincidentally. But the circumstances of his death, like those of the other three victims, remain unclear.A French cyclist, identified in British press reports as Sylvain Mollier, 45, was also killed. His body was found near the British family’s car at a secluded parking area in what investigators have depicted as part of the same shooting spree, possibly when he arrived there coincidentally. But the circumstances of his death, like those of the other three victims, remain unclear.
French media reports on Monday said investigators believed that a single weapon had been used in all the shootings. It was described as a relatively old-fashioned automatic pistol firing 7.65-millimeter ammunition.French media reports on Monday said investigators believed that a single weapon had been used in all the shootings. It was described as a relatively old-fashioned automatic pistol firing 7.65-millimeter ammunition.
British police officials said on Monday that “due to concerns around items found at the address, officers have extended the cordon surrounding the property. Neighbors in the immediate area are being temporarily evacuated.” Witnesses said the search seemed to be have centered on a shed or workshop. British police officials said earlier on Monday that “due to concerns around items found at the address, officers have extended the cordon surrounding the property. Neighbors in the immediate area are being temporarily evacuated.”
Photographs of the family’s mock-Tudor home have dominated front pages in Britain. The police officials did not say what had prompted the evacuation. Journalists staking out the home were also moved back about 200 yards, Britain’s Press Association news agency said, but the police later relaxed the cordon. A later statement by Surrey police said the apparently suspicious items were found “when the search of the property was extended from the main building to outbuildings in the garden.”
According to newspaper accounts, Mr. Hilli, who arrived in Britain from Iraq in 1970 and had a British upbringing, was a consultant specializing in the aerospace and satellite industries. His brother, Zaid, has denied reports that he was in a financial dispute with Mr. Hilli, news reports said. “A bomb disposal unit was called to the scene to carry out an assessment as a precautionary measure,” the statement said, but “residents who were evacuated earlier as a precaution are now being allowed to return to their homes.” But a cordon would remain around the house and garden while police continued to search for clues about the motive for the killings.
Photographs of the family’s mock-Tudor home have dominated front pages in Britain. According to newspaper accounts, Mr. Hilli, who arrived in Britain from Iraq in 1970 and had a British upbringing, was a consultant specializing in the aerospace and satellite industries. His brother, Zaid, has denied reports that he was in a financial dispute with Mr. Hilli, news reports said.
Investigators said they found 25 spent rounds at the scene of the killings and recovered two cellphones from the BMW sedan in which the family was traveling, according to news reports, which said that each victim had been shot twice in the head. The nature of the shootings has fueled speculation that a professional hit team carried out the attack.Investigators said they found 25 spent rounds at the scene of the killings and recovered two cellphones from the BMW sedan in which the family was traveling, according to news reports, which said that each victim had been shot twice in the head. The nature of the shootings has fueled speculation that a professional hit team carried out the attack.
British press reports have suggested that MI5, the domestic security service, ordered Mr. Hilli to be placed under surveillance in 2003 when the prime minister at the time, Tony Blair, strongly supported the American invasion of Iraq. But there has been no independent corroboration of those reports.British press reports have suggested that MI5, the domestic security service, ordered Mr. Hilli to be placed under surveillance in 2003 when the prime minister at the time, Tony Blair, strongly supported the American invasion of Iraq. But there has been no independent corroboration of those reports.
French prosecutors have said the Hilli family had visited the Alpine region previously and had stayed at the same camping site, known as Le Solitaire du Lac.French prosecutors have said the Hilli family had visited the Alpine region previously and had stayed at the same camping site, known as Le Solitaire du Lac.