Three more men arrested over drive-by killing of teenage law student

Investigation into death of 19-year-old Aya Hachem continues

Police officers at the scene on King Street, Blackburn, on Sunday afternoon (PA)

Three more men have been arrested by police investigating the drive-by murder of law student Aya Hachem in Blackburn.

Innocent passer-by Ms Hachem, 19, was hit by one of several shots fired from a vehicle as she walked to a supermarket near her home in Blackburn, Lancashire, on Sunday.

She was not believed to be the intended target of the attack. Ms Hachem, a student at Salford University, died later in hospital from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

On Wednesday, Lancashire Police said two men aged 31 and 35 had been arrested on suspicion of murder and a 29-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. All are from Blackburn.

The men were arrested on Tuesday night and are being questioned in custody.

Three other men from Blackburn aged 39, 33 and 36 were arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday and remain in custody.

Officers believe the shots were fired from a silver Toyota Avensis, which was recovered on Sunday on Wellington Road.

Senior Investigating Officer Andy Cribbin, of the force’s 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.

“I would like to thank those who have come forward to assist the investigation so far and I would continue to ask that anyone who has any information, however insignificant they may think it is, to get in touch.

“This is an absolutely tragic loss of a young life and we need to find out what happened – you may hold the key to help us do that so please don’t hesitate to contact us.

“We know a number of videos of the incident are on social media and it is important that if people are aware of any footage that they formally report this to us if they haven’t already done so as they are potential evidence.

“We would also ask people, even if they are well intentioned, not to share these videos out of respect for Aya and her family.

“Similarly, I would urge people not to speculate online about the cause of or motivation for the incident and to instead share what they know with us, as their information could prove vital.”

Anyone with information is encouraged to call police on 101, quoting log number 0412 of 18 May.

Additional reporting by PA