MANCHESTER, England, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The family of an Indian university student killed in England learned of their son's death from Facebook, police said Friday.
Anuj Bidve, 23, who was studying microelectronics at Lancaster University, was shot in the head in the early morning Monday in Manchester. Assistant Chief Constable Dawn Copley of the Greater Manchester Police apologized to Bidve's family in Pune, India, The Daily Telegraph reported.
"That is not the way anyone should have to find out something so devastating and we completely understand how upset the family are," she said. "Social networking is instantaneous and we have no control over when and what people post on such sites, but no one should hear such tragic news in this way."
Copley said two family liaison officers were in touch with the family and police were trying to get relatives to Manchester.
Police were investigating the killing as a hate crime, although detectives say they had not yet established a motive for the shooting.
Bidve, who was staying in a hotel in an outlying district, was with friends on their way into the city center to line up for post-Christmas sales when he was shot. Witnesses said Bidve talked briefly to two men before one of them pulled out a gun. The men fled after the shooting.
Five people ranging in age from 16 to 20 were taken into custody. Police said a 16-year-old and 17-year-old were released on bail.
