CCTV of bungled Plaistow robbery in which shopkeeper was blasted with sawn-off shotgun

 
On the spot: the shopkeeper has a sawn-off shotgun pointed at him
21 February 2014
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These are the dramatic CCTV images of the moments before a shopkeeper was blasted with a sawn-off shotgun after an attempted robbery in east London.

The shop owner and his assistant had bravely confronted two armed raiders and chased them out of their store in Plaistow.

As they ran down the street the gunmen turned and fired at the men, hitting the 51-year-old shop owner in the chest.

The Met’s Flying Squad released the images of the Halloween raid in an attempt to identify the robbers.

Police also announced a £20,000 reward for information to the shooting which led to the shop owner suffering life-changing injuries.

The CCTV images show the terrifying moment inside the Show Supermarket on Plaistow High Street when a raider points a shotgun at the assistant behind the counter.

The man in the hooded top demands money but the 40-year-old store assistant does not move and even leans across the counter and tries to grab the gun.

The two robbers flee, pursued down the street by the two men with the assistant brandishing a broom.

A few moments later the CCTV shows them returning with the shop owner clutching at his chest in obvious pain.

The shop owner was taken to hospital where he lapsed into a coma for two weeks.

His 27-year-old daughter, who did not want to be named, said he has suffered health problems since and has been unable to return to work.

She said : "My dad is an honest, hard-working man. He has run the Show Supermarket for 14 years and is well known to the local community as a friendly person.

Grab: the shopkeeper attempts to snatch the gun from the hands of the robber

“On October 31 last year, his life changed when he tried to defend his livelihood from armed robbers. He was bravely chasing two armed men away from his shop when one of them shot him in the chest. They ran off, leaving him bleeding in the street.

“He was taken to hospital where he fell into a coma that lasted over two weeks. My family and I were sick with worry, not knowing if he would live.

“We are lucky that he survived.

“If anyone recognises the men please come forward. We need closure on this and we are afraid of the threat these men pose to others while they are out free."

The shop assistant was also injured in the blast but has since recovered.

Detective Sergeant Gary Ferguson, of the Flying Squad, said: “ These men are dangerous and we need to find them urgently.

“Although the first suspect tried to cover up, you can see most of his face in the CCTV footage. His face is distinctive. We are sure that someone who knows this man would recognise him.”

The first suspect is described as wearing dark trousers and a dark baseball cap under a dark, hooded jacket which features a logo on the top of each arm.

The second man is described as also wearing dark trousers, and a dark jacket with a white strip down the centre of the front.

Anyone with information on the incident should call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or call the Flying Squad directly on 020 8345 4226.

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