A 46-year-old man has been charged with the murder of an elderly couple who were found stabbed to death at their home in Blackburn, Lancashire, prompting a heavy police presence and an outpouring of tributes from the local community. Yasin Leli, of Hardman Street, was arrested on suspicion of murder hours after Haji Ismail Ahmed Leli, 80, and Hajiyani Fatima Ismail Leli, 78, were discovered with stab wounds by their carer on Monday morning. He has been charged with two counts of murder and remanded in custody ahead of an appearance at Blackburn Magistrates' Court.

Lancashire Constabulary said officers were called at 8.22am on 7 September to a report of two people found with stab injuries, and the couple, who had been married for more than 60 years, were pronounced dead at the scene from multiple stab wounds. Their family described them as "inseparable" and "the very heart of who we are", thanking police, local councillors and their mosque, Masjide Quwwatal Islam, for their support while asking for privacy. Neighbours described waking to find the street cordoned off with a forensic tent, with one resident noting the couple were well known locally and "very private".