Blackburn shooting: Three arrested over Aya Hachem killing

Detectives are continuing to question three men on suspicion of the murder of a young woman shot dead from a passing car in Blackburn.

Aya Hachem was found with a wound to the chest in King Street, Blackburn, close to Lidl, on Sunday afternoon.

Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods said Lancashire Police did not believe the "completely innocent" law student had been the intended target.

He described her as the "perfect 19-year-old" and a "wonderful young lady".

Three men from Blackburn, aged 33, 36, and 39, have been arrested and remain in custody.

'Bright and passionate'

Ms Hachem's parents said she was the "most loyal devoted daughter" who "dreamed of becoming a solicitor".

She was a young trustee for the Children's Society, whose chief executive Mark Russell described her as "someone full of potential".

"She was bright, passionate, hard-working, ambitious - she wanted to be a lawyer and we used to talk about that," he said.

"It's a complete tragedy that her life has been cut short."

Ms Hachem was going to the shop at about 15:00 BST when she was hit by a single bullet, police said.

Police believe this Toyota Avensis was used to commit the offence

A Toyota Avensis, believed to have been used in the killing, was later found abandoned in Wellington Road.

A number of people had been in the car, which has the registration number SV53 UBP.

DCC Woods said "massive resources" had been allocated to the investigation into Ms Hachem's death.

He said the investigation was concentrating on the Toyota and he appealed to anyone with "dashcam footage from the week running up to Sunday of that vehicle" to get in touch.

He also appealed to those involved in crime in the area to help police, adding that his officers would not be "going away until we've got justice for Aya and her family".

"The offenders have shot dead a completely innocent, wonderful 19-year-old... and it's now time for the criminal fraternity to come forward.

Ms Hachem was found with fatal injuries in King Street at about 15:00 BST on Sunday

"Blackburn isn't one of those places that has gun crime problems. It's very, very unusual."

Ms Hachem was one of four siblings and had lived in Blackburn since travelling to the UK about nine years ago, her cousin Hassan said.

Her family was waiting for the investigation to finish so they could take her body back to Lebanon to be buried in her home village of Qlaileh, he said.

Diane Atkinson, the executive head teacher at Blackburn Central High School, said the 19-year-old's former teachers were "really, really proud of her" and had used her as an example to younger pupils "of what was possible".

She said Ms Hachem had arrived at the age of 12 "with very little English" but had "very quickly picked up" the language and "worked incredibly hard to become the very, very best person she could be".

"She was an inspiration," she added.

"It is such a waste of a wonderful young lady, who had so much to offer and had such great aspirations to help other people."