The unsolved death of a 20-year-old man in the Shadwell Basin a year ago has led police to put up a �20,000 reward for information.

Eight people have been arrested and bailed in connection with the death of Ibrahim Gharib on March 18 last year but no-one has yet been charged.

Tomorrow (Thursday 17) detectives from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command will be handing out appeal leaflets to encourage people to come forward with information.

Det Ch Insp Larry Smith, leading the investigation, said: “We still do not know exactly what happened immediately before Ibrahim fell into the water or what caused him to fall.”

The young man’s family said: “Not a day goes by that we don’t think about Ibrahim and wish that he was still here with us.

“We hope that the reward will prompt someone to share information about who is responsible for the incident at Shadwell Basin on the night of 18th March 2010 that caused Ibrahim’s untimely and unnecessary death.”

Police were called at 9.37pm on March 18 to reports that a man had fallen into the Thames.

It is believed Mr Gharib, who lived in Tarling Street, Shadwell, and a 17-year old female friend may have been caught up in a run-in with some other people around 9pm.

A post-mortem examination gave cause of death as drowning.

Two men and a woman were arrested and bailed to return to an East London police station on Monday.

A further five men were arrested on suspicion of murder and bailed to return to an east London police station in April.

Anyone with information should call 020 8345 3734 Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.