TWO MORE arrests have been made as police continue to investigate the murder of a man who was found dead with serious head injuries in the bedroom of his Accrington flat.

A murder investigation was launched after Mohammed Yousaf, 65, was found dead at a flat in Granville Road on Wednesday, September 21.

He was found with serious head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Muhammed Arif, 44, of Washington Street, Accrington was charged with Mr Yousaf’s murder and appeared before a judge at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday.

No plea was entered and he is next set to appear at the same court for a case management hearing on December 16. A provisional trial date has been set for February 27. 

And yesterday a 45-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman, both from Accrington, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. 

They have been released on bail until November.

A 37-year-old woman from Todmorden was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder last week. She has been given police bail until November 3.

Meanwhile detectives are continuing to look for the murder weapon. It is believed a heavy object, possibly a hammer, was used in the attack.

Anyone with information about the incident is being urged to contact police.

Detectives are also appealing to residents to check land around their homes for anything suspicious, as they believe the weapon used may have been discarded following the attack.

Detective Superintendent Paul Withers, of the Force Major Investigation Team, said: “Mohammed Yousaf was a 65-year-old man of diminutive stature, who was found dead at his home last week.

“We are now appealing to anybody with information about the incident to get in touch with us. Maybe you saw something or somebody in the area that seemed suspicious in the days before September 21st, or maybe you heard someone discussing Mr Yousaf’s death. If you have any information – no matter how small – we would urge you to get in touch with us.

“We are also still trying to trace the weapon used and are looking into the possibility that it may have been discarded following the incident. We would ask that all residents in the vicinity of Granville Road check gardens and land for anything suspicious.

“If you do find anything that could have been used in this attack, please do not move it and contact us immediately.”

Anybody with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting log number 253 of September 21st.