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Detectives hunt death fall gang Mother visits scene of death fall
(about 2 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. The mother of a 16-year-old boy who fell from a 13-storey block of flats has visited the scene of his death.
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 is believed to have been fleeing from a group of 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. His mother Naima Abdain, 40, said: "I can't look up, I can't look up," as she read tributes at the base of the block.
Ahmed had been due to get his GCSE results and hoped to study mechanics. Police said he lost his grip descending the outside of the tower. They consider the death to be an unlawful killing.
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 Ahmed feared he would be stabbed when a gang of six youths, described as black males, started pursuing him and a group of friends on Wednesday.
Emergency services were called at about 1600 BST on Wednesday to reports of the fall from a balcony in Paragon Road. Det Ch Insp Ian Stevenson said: "When he got to the seventh floor, his progress was stopped by a grille.
They found Ahmed at the scene where he died from a ruptured aorta, a post-mortem examination revealed. It is particularly sad that his now lifeless body lies in a mortuary in the very same street where he was due to begin this new chapter in his life Benyermak family statement
He had been due to start studying mechanics next month at Tower Hamlets College. "He has cried out for help, lost his grip and fallen to his death."
Ahmed died at the foot of the building in Paragon Road from a ruptured aorta, a post-mortem examination revealed.
The teenager, whose family is of Moroccan origin, was one of four children.
He had been due to get his GCSE results on Thursday and start studying mechanics next month at Tower Hamlets College.
On Friday, Ahmed's aunt Mina Benyermak, 47, said the teenager's mother was too distraught to speak.
Police are investigating the possibility the teenager was being chased by a gangPolice 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. Ms Benyermak said: "If we knew how it happened we could relax and feel we could leave him in peace."
"He was at home most of the time. He always helped people out if he could." She described her nephew as "a wonderful boy", adding: "He was very quiet and friendly with everyone, with the family, friends and neighbours.
Ahmed, whose family is of Moroccan origin, was one of four children. "We will always see him as he was, not how he is now."
"The innocent are always the first to go," Mr Benyermak added. Ms Benyermak concluded: "We just to want to stop it happening to another person."
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. In a statement released by police, Ahmed's family said: "His 17th birthday would have been on 1 September and this was the day he was due to enrol on a mechanical engineering course at Tower Hamlets College.
"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 "It is particularly sad that his now lifeless body lies in a mortuary in the very same street where he was due to begin this new chapter in his life."
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 fellFloral 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 Stevenson said Ahmed's death was being treated as unlawful killing.
"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. There was no evidence that Ahmed's fingers were stamped on or that he was thrown from the building, he added.
"He reached the seventh floor when he could no longer carry on. After this point he fell to his death." "There may be gang tensions on the estate but Ahmed was not known to be a gang member or involved in crime," Mr Stevenson said.
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 said the youths went to the block of flats "for a specific purpose".
"I do not know what that was, but certainly Ahmed and his group were sufficiently put on guard to decide to leave."
A bicycle left at the scene by the gang is being examined, along with CCTV footage from cameras in nearby streets.