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Four held hostage during robbery | Four held hostage during robbery |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Four staff members at a car repair business in Belfast have been held hostage at gunpoint during a robbery. | |
An armed and masked gang entered premises on the Upper Dunmurry Lane on Wednesday and tied up the employees. | An armed and masked gang entered premises on the Upper Dunmurry Lane on Wednesday and tied up the employees. |
The owner and an employee were forced into a vehicle and driven to an unknown location. | |
One was held in a shed or garage, the second was taken to a house and assaulted. At least one gang member returned and stole a sum of cash. | One was held in a shed or garage, the second was taken to a house and assaulted. At least one gang member returned and stole a sum of cash. |
After going back to the house, the men continued to threaten one of the male employees demanding to know if there was more money. | |
The two employees were then put into a vehicle and after being driven around for about 10-15 minutes, the vehicle stopped in the grounds of a derelict house on the Upper Springfield Road and they were freed. | The two employees were then put into a vehicle and after being driven around for about 10-15 minutes, the vehicle stopped in the grounds of a derelict house on the Upper Springfield Road and they were freed. |
The employees raised the alarm and were then taken to hospital where they received treatment for minor injuries. | The employees raised the alarm and were then taken to hospital where they received treatment for minor injuries. |
John Maxwell from a neighbouring garage said his employees were afraid | |
The two employees left at the business premises were not injured. | The two employees left at the business premises were not injured. |
Police said it was believed a total of possibly eight men were involved in the incident which took place at about 1700 GMT. | Police said it was believed a total of possibly eight men were involved in the incident which took place at about 1700 GMT. |
The company targeted is among a number of similar businesses based in the Stewarts Mill area of Dunmurry. | |
John Maxwell, the owner of neighbouring workshop, Eurofix Car Repairs, said the kidnapping has frightened employees. | |
"We are all shocked. We are going to have to be a bit more vigilant around the place," he said. | |
Detectives in Lisburn are appealing for witnesses. | Detectives in Lisburn are appealing for witnesses. |
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