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Shocking CCTV footage shows bungled sawn-off shotgun robbery that left shopkeeper in a coma

The Met’s Flying Squad announced a £20,000 reward for information

Rob Williams
Friday 21 February 2014 13:03 GMT
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The appeal came as a detectives released CCTV footage taken during the attempted raid on a convenience store in Plaistow.
The appeal came as a detectives released CCTV footage taken during the attempted raid on a convenience store in Plaistow.

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A reward of £20,000 has been offered as part of a fresh appeal for information about a Halloween shooting that left an east London shop owner in a coma for two weeks.

The appeal came as detectives released CCTV footage taken during the attempted raid on a convenience store in Plaistow.

The footage shows the brave shop assistant attempting to tackle the armed robber by grabbing his sawn-off shotgun.

He and the 51-year-old shop owner were later shot at close range after chasing the gunman and his accomplice down Plaistow High Street.

The video shows the stricken businessman later staggering back to the shop holding his chest along with the shop assistant who was hit in the abdomen and leg.

The older shop owner was in a coma for more than two weeks.

The Met’s Flying Squad released the images of the Halloween raid in an attempt to identify the robbers and announced a £20,000 reward for information on the shooting which led to the shop owner suffering what they described as life-changing injuries.

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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