Heartbroken dad Ismail Hachem shared this photo as he paid tribute to his daughter (Image: Facebook)

By Ahmed J Versi

LONDON (The Muslim News): Police have launched an investigation on the killing of a 19-year-old Muslim woman in Blackburn, Lancashire, UK on Sunday afternoon.

Aya Ismail Hachem was shot by a man in a drive-by shooting as she was out shopping on King Street near LIdl, according to Lancashire Police. She was taken to hospital where she later died.

She was shot 100 metres from her home in Blackburn. She was caught up in a crossfire shooting. “She was caught in the cross fire. She was at the wrong place at the wrong time,” Councillor Suleman Khonat told The Muslim News.

The Lebanese Welfare Community said the family of the deceased “thanks everyone who have sent their condolences and stood by their side in this ordeal.”

They added that her body will be transferred to Lebanon after the police investigations are completed and her body is handed over.

Hachem was a second year law student at the University of Salford and she is Young Trustee of Children’s Society.

Paying tribute to his “dear loving daughter”, Hachem’s father Ismail wrote on Facebook: “My strong daughter lawyer Aya Ismail Hashem God’s mercy on your pure soul.

“He who broke our back with your horizon you were the dream, knowledge and morals.

“O Allah, inspire us patience and solace.”

“An investigation has been launched and we are determined to find those responsible — and we are asking for the public’s help identifying the offender or offenders,” Lancashire Police said.

“We believe a light-colored Toyota Avensis — possibly metallic green — may have been involved in the incident. A car matching the same description has since been recovered from nearby Wellington Road and we are now asking anybody who saw a car matching this description in either location to get in touch as soon as possible.”

Detective Superintendent Jonathan Holmes of the Force Major Investigation Team, said: “This is a truly shocking and senseless killing which has robbed a young woman of her life.”

He added: “We appreciate this will have caused a lot of worry in the community, but we have deployed significant additional resources, including armed officers, to carry out high visibility patrols in the area to provide reassurance to residents. Anyone with concerns or questions is welcome to speak to those officers.”

[Photo: Aya Hachem]