Blackburn shooting: Police given more time to question three men in Aya Hachem murder investigation

Police have been given more time to question three men arrested in connection with the murder of Aya Hachem, 19, who was shot dead in Blackburn.
By Sean Gleaves
Published 21st May 2020, 14:43 BST
Updated 21st May 2020, 14:48 BST
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Aya Hachem, 19, was shot in broad daylight as she was out shopping close to the Lidl supermarket on King Street in Blackburn on Sunday (May 17).

A subsequent post-mortem examination has revealed that Aya died as a result of a gunshot wound to her chest.

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Two men aged 31 and 35 who were arrested on suspicion of murder on Tuesday (May 19) appeared before magistrates, along with a 29-year-old man arrested on the same day on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Magistrates granted officers a further 36 hours to speak to the men.

In a previous statement, Senior Investigating Officer, Det Supt Andy Cribbin from Lancashire Constabulary’s Force Major Investigation Team (FMIT) said: “While we have now arrested a number of people as part of this investigation our enquiries are very much on-going and we continue to have a large team of officers and staff working around the clock to find out who was responsible for Aya’s death.

"Our determination to get justice for her family remains undimmed. Our thoughts are very much with Aya’s loved ones and her family are being supported by specially trained officers."

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It is known that before she was shot, a light silver/ green Toyota Avensis drove past Aya.

Police have been given more time to question three men arrested in connection with the murder of Aya Hachem. (Credit: Lancashire Police)Police have been given more time to question three men arrested in connection with the murder of Aya Hachem. (Credit: Lancashire Police)
Police have been given more time to question three men arrested in connection with the murder of Aya Hachem. (Credit: Lancashire Police)

Shots were fired from the vehicle, with one of the shots striking Aya in the chest, fatally injuring her.

Officers believe she was not the intended target of the attack.

The Avensis, registration number SV53 UBP, was recovered by police on Sunday (May 17) on Wellington Road.

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A police presence remains in the area around the shooting whilst enquiries continue.

The Avensis was recovered by police on Sunday (May 17) on Wellington Road. (Credit: Lancashire Police)The Avensis was recovered by police on Sunday (May 17) on Wellington Road. (Credit: Lancashire Police)
The Avensis was recovered by police on Sunday (May 17) on Wellington Road. (Credit: Lancashire Police)

The incident is not being treated as terrorism-related or a racially-motivated.

Any information or video footage can be sent to police via the major incident portal at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/0401020120E05-PO1

Anyone with any other information is asked to get in touch with police by calling 101, quoting log number 0412 of May 18.

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.