Lancashire Police have made two further arrests in connection with the murder of Aya Hachem from Blackburn.
Aya Hachem, 19, was killed in a shooting near her home in Blackburn on 17th May.
Lancashire Police have today confirmed that a 30-year-old from Manchester was detained by Spanish police after a European Arrest Warrant was executed in Fuengirola on Saturday 4th July, and a 33-year-old Manchester man has been arrested today on suspicion of assisting an offender in connection with the murder.
In an official statement released today, Lancashire Police said: “Police in Spain have made an arrest in relation to the murder of Aya Hachem, 19, from Blackburn.”
“The 30-year-old from Manchester was detained after a European Arrest Warrant was executed in Fuengirola on Saturday (July 4th).”
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“He is being held on suspicion of Aya’s murder and the attempted murder of the man officers believe was the target of the shooting which killed her on Sunday, May 17th. He is currently subject to the extradition process so he can be brought back to Lancashire and be charged with the offences.”
“In addition, today (Tuesday, July 7th), a 33-year-old Manchester man has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, with warrants being executed at addresses on Grassmere Road and Moss Lane in Partington, Manchester. Searches are on-going at those properties.”
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“The total arrested in connection with Aya’s death now stands at 21.”
“Of these:
Seven people have been charged with her murder and the attempted murder of the intended target of the shooting
Two people have been released on bail pending further enquiries
Eight people have been released under investigation
Two people in custody (one of those is in Spain)
Two people have been released without charge.”
Lancashire Police would like to continue to remind people that information or video footage in relation to this inquiry can still be sent via the Major Incident Public Portal here.
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Anybody with any other information can contact Lancashire Police on 101, quoting log number 0412 of May 18th, or anonymously via independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
This is a breaking news story – More to follow.
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Beloved Manchester artist Stanley Chow slams Conservative Party for using his artwork
Daisy Jackson
Celebrated local artist Stanley Chow has lashed out at the Conservative Party.
The illustrator, who is famed for his cartoon portraits of famous faces, has discovered that the political party have been using his Andy Burnham illustration at their party conference.
Publicly addressing the usage, Stanley said he would be ‘seeking legal advice’.
He shared a photo of his Andy Burnham portrait that has been placed onto a water bottle with the slogan ‘Bottler Burnham’.
The label also says: “0% strength. Bottled under pressure from Badenoch.”
In another photo, Stanley Chow revealed that the Tory party conference has used his Andy Burnham portrait on pots of sweets, too.
This time, they say: “Andy Panders’ people pleaser pick n mix. Free sweets for everyone, it will only cost you higher taxes.”
Stanley wrote: “It seems like @conservatives have been using my artwork without my permission at their conference party…
“Regardless of whatever your political allegiances are, it’s still copyright infringement… I’ll be seeking legal advice.”
Backing him up in the comments are a number of other local artists, including Mancsy, who said: “As well as the copyright infringement, I expect more of political parties than making gags at the expense of the opposition. It’s alarming on multiple levels.”
Someone else wrote: “Imagine calling a prime minister a people pleaser like it’s an insult… when it’s their job.”
Another person said: “How does that even happen?! Layers of people signing off who go, ‘Sure, let’s not worry about copyright’ (people who’ve presumably never step foot in MCR and seen your artwork, like EVERYWHERE). Drag em, babe. Copyright and reputation, surely.”
Manchester man jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of woman on train
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of a woman on board a train to Manchester.
Following an extensive British Transport Police (BTP) investigation, Nisan Fernando Kurukulasuriya, of Troutbeck Road in Altrincham, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court last month.
At the trail last month, the court heard how, on Monday 20 April 2026, 39-year-old Kurukulasuriya was on a train from Stoke to Manchester and sat next to a woman he didn’t know, who was on the phone.
He then sexually assaulted her repeatedly, doing so again even after being pushed away by the woman.
The woman then noticed that Kurukulasuriya had exposed himself and was masturbating in front of her. She shouted at him, and in response, he stood up and ran away to leave the train – but the woman immediately got up to report the incident to staff.
When the train arrived at Manchester Piccadilly, the woman alerted a member of staff while Kurukulasuriya was stood only a few meters away, and BTP were subsequently called straight away.
Police quickly attended and arrested Kurukulasuriya.
When police interviewed him, Kurukulasuriya showed no remorse for his actions and refused to answer any questions put to him.
After pleading guilty to Sexual Assault and Outraging Public Decency at a previous court hearing, Kurukulasuriya was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, and was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which will bar him from sitting next to any woman he doesn’t know on public transport, as well as being put on thensex offenders register for 10 years.
BTP Detective Sergeant, Mark Haviland, called Kurukulasuriya a ‘despicable man’ who targeted a woman travelling alone ‘for his own sick sexual gratification’.
The Manc -
7th July 2020 
