In both cases the police have received reports of racist language being used towards the victims and both murders are being treated as racially aggravated.
Anti-racist campaigners in both cities have called for justice for the families.
Shezan Umarji, a 20-year-old call centre worker, was fatally stabbed in Preston in the early hours of 22 July during violent disturbances.
Liam McKerney and Lee Moore, both 19, and a 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Preston Magistrates Court charged with the murder of Umarji and violent disorder. The three, all from Fishwick, were remanded in custody until 8 August when they will appear at Preston Crown Court.
On the same night of Shezan's murder, taxi-driver Mohammad Parvaiz was killed while on duty on the other side of the Pennines in Huddersfield.
Police said that the father-of-three died at Golcar from head injuries sustained in a serious assault and believe that he may have been deliberately ambushed by his killers.
Parvaiz was called to quiet Field Head off Leymoor Road in Golcar by the attackers. Five teenagers including one female, all aged between 16 and 19, have been arrested in connection with the murder.
People in Huddersfield and Preston have been shocked by the racist murders.
Mr Umarji's death follows a revised Home Office crime statistics report which revealed that Preston was England's worst region for racist incidents. Police recorded more racist incidents per head of population there last year than anywhere else, including cases where the victim was white. There were 500 recorded racist incidents in Preston in 2004-05, equivalent to 3.82 per 1,000 population. In four out of five cases, the victim was Asian and the perpetrator white.
Meanwhile, Shezan's family have issued a statement saying that they are devastated by the murder and that Shezan has been taken from them "in the cruellest possible way".
The family has called for no retribution to be sought against relatives of those arrested.
Insp Ilyas Mohmed, from Preston police, said: "Shezan's family is not seeking retribution against the families of the alleged offenders and they are asking others not to. They are appealing for calm and have asked me to attend three mosques in the area to appeal for witnesses."
Suggestions of a delay in treating Shezan were dismissed by police. He was in an ambulance 10 minutes after the incident was reported.
Leaders from the city's Catholic community are also planning to meet with their Muslim counterparts in a show of unity.
Father Mark, of St Walburge's Church on Pedder Street, Ashton, who will meet the Muslim community said: "We also want to reassure the Muslim community they have many friends and that we stand by them during this difficult time."
Maulana Elyas Desai, the Imam of Preston Muslim Society at Jamea Mosque on Clarendon Street, Frenchwood, said: "Islam does not teach retribution. Shezan was a very bright lad who was always smiling."