Shoppers ordered to kneel on floor as robbers threaten to BEHEAD them in IS-style attack

TERRIFIED shoppers in a British supermarket were forced to kneel on the floor as machete-wielding robbers threatened to BEHEAD them in an apparent Islamic State-style attack.

Islamic State-style treat at NisaSWNS

The raid happened at NISA supermarket in Coventry

The horrific ordeal happened after three balaclava-bearing men burst into a store late Wednesday evening.

At the start of the attack, one of the viscous thugs jumped onto the counter and swung a machete over his head before ordering petrified customers and staff to kneel before them on the floor.

The robbers then emptied the tills, which contained thousands of pounds in cash, and demanded that the store safe was opened.

But when they were told it was time-locked, the gang threatened to behead the innocent people in a chilling mirror of videos released by Islamic State terrorists.

The trio - who were all wearing dark clothing, balaclavas and gloves - eventually fled the NISA Extra supermarket in Coventry, West Midlands, by foot and evaded capture.

Today one terrified shopper, who did not want to be named, said "it was like they got some sort of sick kick out of it".

They said: "I looked up and a bloke was standing on the counter in a balaclava. They had three or four of us on the floor kneeling with their heads down.

islamic state-style raidSWNS

The three crooks fled the scene by foot

"They were obviously copying what they had seen about these reports of beheadings in the news.

"They were waving a machete around saying if they didn't get what they want they would start chopping people's heads off.

"One girl was already terrified and when they said that she just broke down.

"It was very fast, everything happened so quickly. It was over in about 15 or 20 minutes."

The NISA supermarket has been victim to four other armed robberies in the past five years.

Local residents are now urging Coventry City Council to improve lighting in the area and for police to up its presence after the latest attack which has rattled the community.

The victim added: "They're scum, absolute scum. They seem to do it to psyche themselves up on adrenaline.

"It's the power of it, telling people they will take their heads off - they're just sheer scum.

"You just go along with what they say, because it's only money at the end of the day and your life is more important than that."

Another victim said they believed the robbers were local because they appeared to know the layout of the store.

They seem to do it to psyche themselves up on adrenaline

One witness

They added: "They might be local lads, they came in on foot and they escaped on foot.

"One of them was really trying to cover his face.

"The police had dogs and helicopters out but they got away on foot. Somebody somewhere must know something."

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police confirmed there were no injuries during the raid, but that a "quantity of cash" was stolen.

They added: "Police are appealing for information after masked men armed with a machete robbed a shop in Coventry.

"The robbery happened at around 8.15pm on 12 November when three men - all wearing dark clothing, balaclavas and gloves - entered Nisa on Winsford Avenue and demanded to speak to the manager.

"Staff and shoppers were told to sit in the warehouse area while a quantity of cash was stolen from the office.

"The offenders then left the area and headed towards Whitaker Road.

"Nobody was hurt in the robbery and officers are currently speaking to witnesses, examining CCTV footage and carrying out inquiries in the area.

"Officers are keen to hear from anyone who was nearby at the time and may have seen three men acting suspiciously either before or after the robbery, and any vehicle they may have left in."

Anyone with information is urged to call DC Simon Cleal on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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