A post-mortem examination into the death of a 19-year-old law student killed in a drive-by shooting has revealed she died from a single wound to the chest.
Innocent university student Aya Hachem was hit by one of several shots fired from a vehicle as she walked to a supermarket near her home in Blackburn, Lancashire, on Sunday.
The three are now being held in police custody and continue to be questioned on suspicion of the teen's murder.
Officers have revealed they do not believe Ms Hachem was the intended target of the broad daylight attack, which took place on a busy main road in Blackburn's town centre.
The Lebanese-born teenager, a second year student at the University of Salford, died in hospital a short time after emergency services were called to the scene in King Street at around 3pm.
On Tuesday, Lancashire Police said in a statement that a post-mortem showed she died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.
The force also said they were aware of several videos of Sunday’s incident circulating on social media, and urged people to formally report them to police.
It asked people to refrain from speculating online about the cause of the incident, which has shocked Britain's Muslim community during the holy month of Ramadan and prompted discussion on social media over whether it was racially-motivated.
Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Andy Cribben said: “We know that a lot of people have expressed their support for the police investigation and I would like to thank them for that.
“However, we know of a number of videos of the incident are on social media and it is important that people formally report these to us as they are potential evidence.
“We would also ask people, even if they are well intentioned, not to share these videos out of respect for Aya and her family.
“Similarly, I would urge people not to speculate online about the cause of the incident and to instead share what they know with us as their information could prove vital.”
Officers are aware that before Ms Hachem was fatally shot, a light silvery green Toyota Avensis drove past her. Shots were fired from the vehicle.
The vehicle, with the registration number SV53 UBP, was abandoned a short time later before being seized for forensic examination by the police.
Meanwhile, a large team of detectives continue to work on the inquiry with additional police patrols in the local area.
Detective Superintendent Cribben said: “We appreciate that there will still be a lot of concern in the local community and so I would like to reassure people that there will still be additional patrols out and about. If you have any concerns or information about the incident, feel free to approach those officers.
“I would also like to stress again that we are not treating the shooting as terrorism-related or a racially-motivated.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting log number 0412 of May 18th. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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