Slaughterhouse raided by gunmen

May 4 2007

ROBBERS armed with a gun have stolen thousands of pounds after storming into a Muslim slaughterhouse in Birmingham.

The four men, wearing balaclavas and also carrying a knife, fired two shots inside the premises.

A number of workers witnessed the lunchtime robbery at the Birmingham Halal Abattoir Ltd in Bishop Street, Highgate.

Worker Mohammed Khan said his colleagues were "very shocked" by what had happened but were not seriously injured.

He said: "The staff are OK but are very shaken by what happened. The shots were fired at the ceiling and some of the debris hit them but they were not seriously injured.

"I was sitting upstairs at the time and heard the shots. It all happened very quickly - in about one or two minutes."

He said the gang burst into the slaughter house before breaking into the safe.

A police spokesman said: "Four men wearing balaclavas entered the premises armed with a firearm and a knife.

"They took cash from the safe and left in what is believed to be a silver car. It is understood that two shots were fired but no injuries were sustained."