Caught on camera: The hoodie gang suspected of forcing GCSE teenager to plunge to his death from tower block

Police released the images on Saturday in their hunt for the culprits.

The 16-year-old was on the 14th floor of a block of flats with five friends when they saw the gang cycling towards them.

Hunted: Are these Ahmed's killers?

Ahmed plunged to his death as he tried to escape the threatening youths at a block of flats in Hackney, east London.

One hooded youth is understood to have stood guard outside the entrance to the block, while the rest entered the building.

Ahmed's friends, who believed the gang had large knives, got in a lift and went to the third floor, where they tried to hide.

But somehow the 16-year-old became separated from them, and remained at the top of the building.

He was so scared of what the gang would do to him, he decided to shin down the outside.

One friend pleaded with him not to climb down, but Ahmed said it was 'better than being stabbed'.

Life lost: Tributes have flowed for Ahmed

Police believe the gang visited the estate for a 'specific purpose' - to have an altercation with Ahmed and his friends.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Stevenson said CCTV cameras also captured the youths making chase and added that Ahmed shouted for help seconds before losing his grip because a grille on the seventh floor stopped his progress.

Inspector Stevenson said Ahmed was not a known gang member or involved in crime, and had not been dealing in drugs. He added was on 'the periphery' of the group he was with.

A day after he died, the Benyermak family learned that Ahmed had achieved nine GCSEs.

Ahmed's cousin Michelle Haggarty, 22, said the family were no closer to understanding what led to the tragedy.

'The people who did it know what happened and they will have to live with that for the rest of their lives.

'His mum is traumatised, it's difficult for her to eat and sleep. She's got three other children and now she's going to be so protective and worried.'

The Reverend Rob Wickham, the rector of Hackney, paid tribute to Ahmed today with a minute's silence at St John's.

Police are treating the teenager's death as unlawful killing, but have not ruled out murder.