Shopkeeper's armed robbery shock

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A shop owner has spoken of his shock after an armed robbery at his convenience store in Cardiff.

Armed police were called to Costcutters on North Road near the Gabalfa flyover after the incident, which happened at about 0830 BST on Saturday.

A man armed with what appeared to be a long black handgun demanded money from a male employee manning the shop.

Owner Imran Tahirkheli said the staff member had been "very frightened" and handed over £130 from the till.

"He called me at home and he was in shock," said Mr Tahirkheli, who bought the shop in January.

"He said a guy came into the shop and his face was hidden. But he didn't see the gun at that point because it was hidden down his trousers.

"He said he asked him why his face was covered and asked him to take it off. The man started abusing him and so my employee asked him why he was using bad language.

The shopkeeper was not injured but as you would expect he is extremely shaken up Det Sgt Stuart Wales

"Then he took out the gun and pointed it directly at him as he stood behind the till. He said he wanted money - whatever he could get."

Mr Tahirkheli said as the shop had only been open since 0700 BST, there was not much much money in the till but the employee, who was in his 20s, handed over £130.

"I've always told him if anybody comes like this, give them whatever they want. Life is much more important, it doesn't matter," he added.

"When I heard I was very shocked, we've had no problems here before."

He added that the employee was feeling better now and would be retuning to work after two days off, which had been planned before the robbery.

The gunman ran towards the city centre after the robbery

After the robbery, police said the suspect, who is described as being in his 30s, left the shop with the money and ran towards the city centre.

He fled with an accomplice who had been standing outside the shop while the robbery took place.

Armed police officers were deployed as a precaution to ensure the safety of the public and the force helicopter was used in a search of the surrounding area.

South Wales Police are continuing to search the area, conduct house-to-house enquiries and study CCTV footage.

Det Sgt Stuart Wales, from Cathays CID, said: "The shopkeeper was not injured but as you would expect he is extremely shaken up by what has happened and he is being supported by suitably trained officers from South Wales Police.

"There were no customers in the shop at the time and we believe the second male waited outside the shop where he acted as a look-out.

"The man who went inside the shop was wearing quite distinctive clothing and would ask for anyone who recognises him from the description to contact us.

"Both men ran in the direction of the city centre and may have crossed North Road into the Mynachdy estate."

Golden eyebrows

The man with the firearm who entered the shop is described as white, approximately 25 to 30, 6ft (1.8m) tall, of slim build and with a slim face and golden eyebrows.

He was possibly wearing a baseball cap underneath a grey hooded top which had a darker grey hood than the rest of the garment. The hood was worn over the head.

He was also wearing grey jogging trousers which had dark stripes down the outside of the legs, a black scarf over his face, white gloves and white trainers.

The man who stood outside the shop is described as shorter and heavier than the first man, wearing a grey hooded top that was worn over the head.

Anyone who saw these men or has any other information is asked to contact the Incident Room at Cathays CID on 029 2052 7267 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.