The London Daily News

A murder hunt was launched today after a body was pulled from the river Thames in Shadwell.

Police believe the man, in his 20s, had been involved in an altercation which also saw his 17-year-old old female friend suffer a head injury around 9.30 last night by the Shadwell river basin by Wapping.

The victim’s body was found in the basin at 10am this morning.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the victim had been on the waterside with a 17-year-old friend when the confrontation is thought to have taken place.

He said officers from the force's homicide and serious crime command are responsible for the case and are treating the death as suspicious.

A post-mortem examination will take place at Poplar Mortuary in due course to establish how the man died.

Witnesses told police a group of people were seen in 'some kind of altercation' with the victim and the girl.

Detectives are now focusing on whether the victim suffered any injuries, and whether he fell in the water or was pushed.

The dead man is believed to have lived in the Shadwell area. It is not known if the teenager was his girlfriend. His family have been informed.