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| Mother visits death fall building | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The mother of a 16-year-old boy who fell from a 13-storey block of flats has visited the scene of his death. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Police said he lost his grip descending the outside of the tower. They consider the death to be an unlawful killing. | Police said he lost his grip descending the outside of the tower. They consider the death to be an unlawful killing. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Det Ch Insp Ian Stevenson said: "When he got to the seventh floor, his progress was stopped by a grille. | Det Ch Insp Ian Stevenson said: "When he got to the seventh floor, his progress was stopped by a grille. |
| 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 | 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 has cried out for help, lost his grip and fallen to his death." | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | On Friday, Ahmed's aunt Mina Benyermak, 47, said the teenager's mother was too distraught to speak. |
| Ms Benyermak said: "If we knew how it happened we could relax and feel we could leave him in peace." | Ms Benyermak said: "If we knew how it happened we could relax and feel we could leave him in peace." |
| She described her nephew as "a wonderful boy", adding: "He was very quiet and friendly with everyone, with the family, friends and neighbours. | She described her nephew as "a wonderful boy", adding: "He was very quiet and friendly with everyone, with the family, friends and neighbours. |
| "We will always see him as he was, not how he is now." | "We will always see him as he was, not how he is now." |
| Ms Benyermak concluded: "We just to want to stop it happening to another person." | Ms Benyermak concluded: "We just to want to stop it happening to another person." |
| 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. | 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. |
| Police are treating the death as an unlawful killing | |
| "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." | "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." |
| Det Ch Insp Stevenson said Ahmed's death was being treated as unlawful killing. | Det Ch Insp Stevenson said Ahmed's death was being treated as unlawful killing. |
| There was no evidence that Ahmed's fingers were stamped on or that he was thrown from the building, he added. | There was no evidence that Ahmed's fingers were stamped on or that he was thrown from the building, he added. |
| "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. | "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 said the youths went to the block of flats "for a specific purpose". | 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." | "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. | A bicycle left at the scene by the gang is being examined, along with CCTV footage from cameras in nearby streets. |
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| Police make death fall appeal |