Double murder probe launched after two die of stab wounds and third badly injured in Houghton Regis

A double murder investigation has been launched after two people died and a third was seriously injured in Bedfordshire.

Police were called to reports of a man being hit by a vehicle in Houghton Regis early on Sunday.

When emergency services arrived at Tithe Farm Road at 1.18am they found three men with stab wounds.

Two were pronounced dead at the scene, while a third was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

Some reports suggest the victims were believed to have been chased by a man in a car after a row in a pub in the town.

One local resident said: “I have heard it was over a girl. Two people have lost their lives... I can’t believe it.”

He said the two who died were white men aged in their 20s. The mother of one of them left flowers at the scene.

While the victims have yet to be formally identified, specially trained officers are supporting family members.

A large police presence remains in the town while investigations are carried out to establish the full circumstances of the incident and identify those responsible.

Extra police will be patrolling the town in the coming days.

T/Det Supt Carl Foster from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: “This was a horrific incident which has resulted in two young men losing their lives and a third suffering very serious injuries.

"I understand how concerning this will be for residents, however from what we know so far we believe this to be a contained incident with no wider ongoing threat to the public.

"There can be absolutely no excuse for such violence and we will do everything we can to bring those responsible to justice. The area was fairly busy at the time and I would urge anyone who saw what happened, or anything leading up to it, to contact police."

Anyone with any information should call police quoting Operation Crux on 101, via the online reporting tool at www.beds.police.uk or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

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