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Guard injured in attempted raid on London watch shop | Guard injured in attempted raid on London watch shop |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A security guard suffered "potentially life-changing injuries" when armed robbers tried to smash their way into a central London shop, police have said. | |
Officers said the attempted raid took place at Watches of Switzerland in New Bond Street at 11:05 GMT on Monday. | Officers said the attempted raid took place at Watches of Switzerland in New Bond Street at 11:05 GMT on Monday. |
One of the gang sprayed people who got close to the group with a noxious liquid, injuring a guard. | |
However, the group left empty-handed after staff managed to operate the security shutters. | |
'Pedestrians scattered' | 'Pedestrians scattered' |
Six men were seen riding at a high speed from Oxford Street towards the store, officers said. | Six men were seen riding at a high speed from Oxford Street towards the store, officers said. |
One moped was ridden on the pavement while two others mounted the pavement and caused pedestrians to scatter at a junction near the store, police said. | |
When they reached the shop, the raiders, one of whom is believed to have had a handgun, rammed the door with a moped and struck it with a sledgehammer and an axe. | |
When staff closed the security shutters the gang fled on their vehicles, nearly knocking over a member of public. | |
The injured security guard, who it is believed was sprayed with ammonia, remains in hospital and is thought to have potentially life-changing injuries. | The injured security guard, who it is believed was sprayed with ammonia, remains in hospital and is thought to have potentially life-changing injuries. |
No property was stolen, but the damage to the store is estimated at several thousand pounds. | No property was stolen, but the damage to the store is estimated at several thousand pounds. |
The store's manager Nino Santi had described the Met's response time as "scandalous" saying officers took about 30 minutes to respond. | |
But a Met Police spokeswoman said they were alerted at 11:09 GMT and armed response vehicles were assigned within three minutes. | |
She said officers were in the area at 11:23 GMT and, as it was an armed incident, made the locality safe and waited for armed colleagues before entering the shop at 11:34 GMT. |