TWO more men have been arrested and charged with the murder of Aya Hachem.

Blackburn law student Aya had been walking along King Street in the town on May 17 2020 when she was struck by a stray bullet fired from a passing Toyota Avensis.

The bullet went through her body and was embedded in a telegraph pole.

She had been walking to buy food for her family to eat when they broke their Ramadan fast that evening.

Eight people were last year jailed for a total of more than 200 years following a trial for their involvement in the murder of Aya and the attempted murder of Pacha Khan, the intended target of the shooting.

Now following a review of the evidence two more men - Suhayl Suleman and Lewis Otway - have been arrested and charged.

Both were interviewed in the early stages of the investigation and released without charge but following a further review of the evidence, and advice from Nicholas Johnson QC who represented the prosecution at trial, the Crown Prosecution Service has now authorised charges of murder (Aya Hachem) and attempted murder (Pacha Khan) for Suleman, 37, of Shear Brow, Blackburn and Otway, 41, of Clitheroe Road, Manchester.

Otway was arrested on Wednesday night in the Dudley area of the West Midlands and Suleman was arrested in Blackburn.

Both men are due to appear before Preston Crown Court tomorrow.