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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Detectives hunt death fall gang | Detectives hunt death fall gang |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Detectives are hunting for a gang believed to have been chasing a teenager when he plunged to his death from a block of flats. | Detectives are hunting for a gang believed to have been chasing a teenager when he plunged to his death from a block of flats. |
| Ahmed Benyermak, 16, is thought to have been running from masked youths when he fell from the seventh floor of the building in Hackney, east London. | Ahmed Benyermak, 16, is thought to have been running from masked youths when he fell from the seventh floor of the building in Hackney, east London. |
| He had climbed down several floors on the outside of the block before he lost his footing and fell. | He had climbed down several floors on the outside of the block before he lost his footing and fell. |
| Ahmed had been due to get his GCSE results and hoped to study mechanics. | Ahmed had been due to get his GCSE results and hoped to study mechanics. |
| Investigators believe he may have feared he would be stabbed when the bicycle-riding gang, who are described as black males, started pursuing him. | Investigators believe he may have feared he would be stabbed when the bicycle-riding gang, who are described as black males, started pursuing him. |
| Emergency services were called at about 1600 BST on Wednesday to reports of the fall from a balcony in Paragon Road. | Emergency services were called at about 1600 BST on Wednesday to reports of the fall from a balcony in Paragon Road. |
| They found Ahmed at the scene where he died from a ruptured aorta, a post-mortem examination revealed. | They found Ahmed at the scene where he died from a ruptured aorta, a post-mortem examination revealed. |
| He had been due to start studying mechanics next month at Tower Hamlets College. | He had been due to start studying mechanics next month at Tower Hamlets College. |
| Police are investigating the possibility the teenager was being chased by a gang | Police are investigating the possibility the teenager was being chased by a gang |
| His uncle Mustapha Benyermak said: "He was a nice kid, a friendly guy. He didn't get into trouble. | His uncle Mustapha Benyermak said: "He was a nice kid, a friendly guy. He didn't get into trouble. |
| "He was at home most of the time. He always helped people out if he could." | "He was at home most of the time. He always helped people out if he could." |
| Ahmed, whose family is of Moroccan origin, was one of four children. | Ahmed, whose family is of Moroccan origin, was one of four children. |
| "The innocent are always the first to go," Mr Benyermak added. | "The innocent are always the first to go," Mr Benyermak added. |
| On Thursday, headteacher Richard Brown, from Hackney Free and Parochial Secondary School, said family members had gone to collect Ahmed's results, though his parents were too upset. | On Thursday, headteacher Richard Brown, from Hackney Free and Parochial Secondary School, said family members had gone to collect Ahmed's results, though his parents were too upset. |
| "One of the youngsters who has worked very hard for their GCSEs has been the victim of this tragedy - people are very shocked and upset," said Mr Brown | "One of the youngsters who has worked very hard for their GCSEs has been the victim of this tragedy - people are very shocked and upset," said Mr Brown |
| Ahmed got a C in maths, a C in science and two other C grades. | Ahmed got a C in maths, a C in science and two other C grades. |
| Floral tributes have been laid at the flats where Ahmed fell | |
| Det Ch Insp Ian Stevenson said his "tragic and unnecessary" death came after he became separated from his friends when they tried to leave the area as the hooded gang approached. | Det Ch Insp Ian Stevenson said his "tragic and unnecessary" death came after he became separated from his friends when they tried to leave the area as the hooded gang approached. |
| "He climbed on to the outside of the tower block via an open balcony and then climbed down several floors trying to escape," he said. | "He climbed on to the outside of the tower block via an open balcony and then climbed down several floors trying to escape," he said. |
| "He reached the seventh floor when he could no longer carry on. After this point he fell to his death." | "He reached the seventh floor when he could no longer carry on. After this point he fell to his death." |
| He continued: "I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the victim fall from the tower block and anyone who witnessed events prior to his fall to please contact police." | He continued: "I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the victim fall from the tower block and anyone who witnessed events prior to his fall to please contact police." |