Blackburn shooting: Seventh person charged with murder of law student Aya Hachem

Detectives investigating the death of Aya Hachem have charged a seventh person with murder and attempted murder.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Zamir Raja, 32, of no fixed address, will appear before Preston Magistrates Court tomorrow (June 9).

He been charged with the murder of Aya and the attempted murder of the person who police believe was the intended target.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Det Ch Insp Zoe Russo, of Lancashire Police’s Force Major Investigation Team, said: "It has been just over three weeks since Aya was killed and in that time we have worked tirelessly on this investigation. We have now made a total of 19 arrests, and seven people have been charged.

"However, our inquiry is not yet over, and we continue to ask anybody with information to come forward.

"If you know anything about Aya’s senseless killing, and have not yet spoken with officers, please come forward as soon as you possibly can."

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).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Lancashire Constabulary said they do not believe she was the intended target of the shooting.

Aya Hachem (pictured) was shot in broad daylight as she was out shopping in Blackburn. (Credit: Lancashire Police)Aya Hachem (pictured) was shot in broad daylight as she was out shopping in Blackburn. (Credit: Lancashire Police)
Aya Hachem (pictured) was shot in broad daylight as she was out shopping in Blackburn. (Credit: Lancashire Police)

Fifteen people were arrested in the days after Aya’s death, with five men and a woman charged.

Two men have been bailed pending further enquiries and ix people – three men and three women – have been released under investigation.

One was man released without charge.

Last week detectives arrested a further three people - a man and woman from Coventry and a woman from Manchester – and they have since been released under investigation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Any information or video footage in relation to this inquiry can still be sent via the Major Incident Public Portal at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/0401020120E05-PO1

Anyone with any other information can contact 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.