Teenager found dead in London after 30 youths seen ‘carrying baseball bats’ nearby

Shanur Ahmed was reported missing hours before he was found suffering fatal head injuries

A 16-year-old boy has been found dead after a group of 30 youths were seen “carrying baseball bats” nearby.

Shanur Ahmed was found with head injuries on scrubland behind Gallions Reach Docklands Light Railway station in Newham, east London, on Tuesday morning. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

His family had reported him missing hours earlier after he did not return to his home in nearby Manor Park.

A member of the public reported seeing “about 30 males” brandishing baseball bats near the station shortly before 8pm the previous day.

Police officers searched the area but did not find any members of the group.

Scotland Yard has launched a murder investigation and are trying to establish whether the group is linked to Shanur’s death.

Detective Chief Inspector Larry Smith, of the Metropolitan Police, said: “A young teenage boy has died and his family and friends are devastated.

“They want answers and they deserve all the help the public can give them.

“We need anyone with information to tell us what they know.

“In particular, we want to speak to anyone who was in the vicinity of Gallions Reach at around 8pm on Monday.

“If you were a passing motorist using a dashcam you may have recorded something vital, please make contact.”

Shanur’s family are being supported by specialist officers and a post-mortem examination is scheduled to take place soon.

Any witnesses or anyone with any information can call police on 0208 345 3985 or contact detectives over Twitter on @MetCC, quoting CAD 1573/03MAR.

To give information anonymously, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.