Murder suspect 'on the loose in Edinburgh'

The 37-year-old, who used to live in Edinburgh, is known to still have strong links in the city and may have travelled here in the past 72 hours. Anyone who spots him is being warned not to approach him but to contact police immediately.

As part of the hunt, police sent sniffer dogs, armed officers and a helicopter to the Edinburgh home of his estranged former father-in-law, Imtiaz Ali yesterday.

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

It was 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.

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

Officers from Lothian and Borders Police are now working with colleagues from Lancashire Constabulary.

Imtiaz Ali, 51, was already at a police station when officers arrived to search his home yesterday. He had attended after a family member told him officers had visited one of their shops in the Capital.

He reportedly said: "I don't even know the man they are looking for. I divorced my ex-wife years ago. The street was like a scene from a movie. They had too many police cars and dogs for this."

Detective Superintendent Neil Hunter, who is leading the investigation, said: "We need to speak with Naeem Butt as a matter of urgency.

"We believe he may well have travelled to Edinburgh and I would appeal to anybody in that area who thinks they may have seen him in the past 72 hours or so to come forward.

"I would also like to speak with anybody who has had any contact with him whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, since Tuesday. Finally, I would appeal to Mr Butt directly to make contact with the police as soon as possible.

"However, I would urge members of the public who may come into contact with Mr Butt to exercise caution and not to approach him directly but to contact the police immediately."

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

On the night in question, it is believed Mr Ahmed had been chased by another man prior to his death.

Anybody with any information should contact police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.