French Alps shooting: UK vehicle appeal

Saad al-Hilli and three other people died in the shooting

An appeal to help trace a UK-registered vehicle seen near the spot where four people were murdered in the French Alps has been issued by Surrey Police.

Saad al-Hilli and his wife Iqbal from Claygate, Surrey, her mother Suhaila al-Allaf and French cyclist Sylvain Mollier were shot on 5 September.

The al-Hilli's daughters Zeinab and Zeena survived.

Police want to speak to the owner of a right-hand drive 4x4, possibly a grey or black BMW X5.

A Surrey Police spokeswoman said there was a "strong possibility" it was a British-registered vehicle.

The 4x4 was being driven on the Combre d'Ire Road in Chevaline, near Annecy, about 20 minutes before the shooting, the force said.

Surrey Police said the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team had been working closely with the French authorities on "a number of lines of inquiry" in the UK.

The appeal to trace the vehicle was broadcast on the BBC One's Crimewatch programme earlier.

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The family were on a camping holiday on the shores of Lake Annecy when they were attacked.

Nobody has been held responsible for the deaths.

Det Sup Nick May said: "Were you on holiday in the French Alps at the time? Did you visit the Annecy area?

"I am particularly keen to speak to any owner of such a vehicle who visited the towns of Doussard or Chevaline on the afternoon of 5 September as they may be able to provide vital information to assist with this ongoing joint investigation.

"This location is very popular and there may have been a number of tourists staying in the local area or travelling through at that time of year.

"The timing of this sighting is clearly significant and it is important that we trace this vehicle if only to eliminate it from our inquiries."