Homes raided in search for murder suspect

Officers raided the properties, which are not being disclosed, as they searched for Naeem Majid Butt, the chief suspect in a possible "honour killing".

It comes as images of the 37-year-old arriving at Haymarket station after travelling by train from Manchester Piccadilly were released today.

The footage shows Butt arrive on the platform at 11:02am, just nine hours after the murder was committed.

Butt, who used to live in Edinburgh, is wanted in connection with the fatal stabbing of 24-year-old Saheel Ahmed in Blackburn, Lancashire, on 22 June.

It is understood that one line of inquiry for officers on the case was the suggestion that it could be an honour-style killing prompted by an alleged affair between the victim and a woman.

Police have been guarding two homes in the Duddingston area of the city to protect family members in the event that Butt tried to contact them.

Lothian and Borders Police have been working closely with a team of CID colleagues from Lancashire Constabulary who are based in the city.

Today's raids were carried out after police in Lancashire obtained a warrant for Butt's arrest.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Gray, from Lancashire Constabulary, said: "We believe that he is being harboured by associates within Edinburgh who are themselves committing a criminal offence.

"This was a brutal murder and I would urge Naeem Butt to surrender himself to the police, and for anyone who knows of his whereabouts to come forward."

The wanted man vanished following the murder of Mr Ahmed in Blackburn's Warrington Street. Police were called to the road following reports of a disturbance and found Mr Ahmed's body at around 1:50am on 22 June.

Detectives are also looking at the theory that the murderer may have lain in wait before he carried out the stabbing.

Shortly after the attack, police named Butt, from Blackburn, as a man they would like to speak to.

Chief Inspector Tony Beveridge, from Lothian and Borders Police, said: "We have been working closely with our Lancashire colleagues in order to bring this search to a successful conclusion.

"At this time there is nothing to indicate that Naeem Butt presents an immediate risk to the public. However, we would advise anyone who sees him not to approach him, but to contact police immediately."

Butt is described as 5ft 10in tall, of medium to slim build with dark hair and brown eyes. He has a piercing in both ears, as well as a number of distinctive tattoos, including a scorpion and peacock on his left arm and a cobra on his left hand.