Mum fights off armed robbers in store with chocolates

A MOTHER-OF-TWO fought off a gang of armed robbers who held up her family shop with a handgun by throwing a box of chocolate bars at them.

• Haris Yakoob is proud of his wife's courage.

Rabiaa Yakoob was alone in the store when a man and a woman with their faces covered with scarves burst in and demanded cash and cigarettes.

The man brandished a handgun at the 35-year-old shopkeeper in the Broomhall Convenience Store she runs with her husband, Haris.

The gunman shouted and swore at Mrs Yakoob but she told them the store's safe was locked on time delay and she could not get any money out.

Mrs Yakoob started screaming at them to get out when the man punched her in the face, leaving her with a bloody cut to the nose.

She retaliated by hurling a box of Dairy Milk bars she had been shielding herself with at the two robbers.

The man and woman, along with another man who had been keeping watch outside the store in Broomhall Road, fled the scene following the failed robbery at around 3.15pm on Sunday.

Her 39-year-old husband, who had been away from the store at the time of the incident, said his wife was recovering at home. He said: "She told me it happened very quickly, they were only in the shop for about two minutes. She had been holding up the box of chocolates to try and protect herself then she threw it at them.

"Rabiaa told me she doesn't know what she was thinking. She said she's not so sure she'd be so brave again. She can't believe she did it.

"She phoned me immediately after and I rushed straight here and took her to the hospital.

"She was punched in the nose, and doctors say it is too early to say what the damage is. We've to go back in five days when the swelling has gone down. She has to take tranquillisers and painkillers and get some rest."

He said he was very proud of his wife for her courageous actions, and that it should warn off future attackers.

He said: "They got away with nothing. I hope this discourages people from pulling stunts like this, because they gained nothing from it."

Mr Yakoob has handed over his CCTV tape to the police, who are now on the hunt for the three suspects.

The man with the gun was aged between 18 and 20 and around 5ft 9in tall . He was wearing a black hoodie on with a dark scarf covering part of his face.

The female, who was around 5ft 4in, was wearing a grey hoodie with pink writing. The third suspect who stood outside the shop throughout the incident was wearing a grey hooded top and grey jogging bottoms.

Police are urging anyone who saw anything suspicious to come forward.

A police spokesman said: "Lothian and Borders Police view crimes involving firearms extremely seriously and will robustly deal with anyone found to be involved in such activity.

"Anyone who recognises the descriptions of the suspects or who has information that can assist with our inquiries is asked to contact police immediately."