Fresh appeal for boy's death fall

Ahmed's death is being treated by police as an unlawful killing

Police have returned to a block of flats to appeal for witnesses a week after a 16-year-old fell to his death from the building in east London.

Ahmed Benyermak is thought to have been trying to escape from a group of youths when he plunged about 100ft (30m) on the Trelawny estate in Hackney.

Police think he feared he would be stabbed by the gang, who were chasing him and his friends last Wednesday.

Officers want to trace five youths who rode off on bikes shortly afterwards.

Their images were captured by CCTV cameras and a sixth person ran away towards the local branch of Tesco.

Det Ch Insp Ian Stevenson, who is leading the investigation, said: "We know there are people out there with vital information which can assist us in identifying the six youths who came to the tower block that day.

"It may be they haven't contacted us because they don't want to get involved, or think other people are bound to come forward."

Police said the youths rode away minutes after Ahmed fell to his death

Officers distributed leaflets at the scene and appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident or who had information to contact police.

DCI Stevenson stressed any tip-offs would be dealt with in confidence, "no matter how insignificant" someone thought they were.

Ahmed died from a ruptured aorta after falling seven floors last Wednesday afternoon.

He had been on the 13th floor of the tower block on Paragon Road but became separated from his friends as he tried to escape the gang.

He went through an open balcony and scaled the side of the building before losing his grip and dropping to the ground.

His death is being treated by police as an unlawful killing.

An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned on Wednesday.