Police were called to the superstore in Baguley, where three men stole cash after confronting staff with machetes
Armed robbers terrorised Tesco staff and shoppers today after targeting a branch of the supermarket in Manchester.
Three masked men with weapons stormed into the Tesco Extra store on Altrincham Road in the Baguley area just before 11.15am this morning.
Some eyewitnesses said the criminals appeared to be carrying machetes as they demanded cash.
They stole an undisclosed amount of money before making their getaway in a waiting car.
No one was injured, although one distressed female shopper was taken to hospital as a precaution.
Armed robbers have reportedly targeted a Tesco in the Baguley area of Manchester this morning, with eye witnesses claiming three men with machetes robbed the store.
Police and paramedics are said to be on the scene at the Tesco Extra store on Altrincham Road following an incident shortly after 11am.
One eye witness Aileen Inglis told the Manchester Evening News: "I was on my way at about 11.10am and they were stopping cars saying there had been an armed robbery. There were police and ambulances and they decided to close the store."
Police are reported to have confirmed they have been called out to an armed robbery at the supermarket.
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed officers are at the scene of an armed robbery in Baguley.
A spokesman for the force said they were called at 11.15am this morning, but were waiting for further details from officers on the ground.
People in the Baguley area are warning others to avoid the the Tesco Extra store, with reports of a heavy police and emergency services presence.
@TescoBaguley If anybody is thinking of going tesco baguley, wait an hour or two.loads of police and ambulances there
— Gorgeous Vixen (@GorgeousVixen70) November 4, 2014
Shoppers at the Baguley Tesco have been tweeting their accounts of what happened inside the store this morning.
Patrick Ward said: "I've just been in Baguley Tesco, and 3 men in balaclavas with machetes robbed it."
Alex Hannah said: "As if Tesco Baguley has just been held up with guns while my dad was inside."
Greater Manchester Police are yet to confirm any details of the raid.
Another eye-witness has been talking to the Manchester Evening News about the "very frightening".
The man, who lives nearby but didn't want to be named, said: "I was at the kiosk and paying for a few bits that I had, and heard this almighty bang. I thought someone had just knocked something over. Then I heard raised voices and saw two or three men in balaclavas about 30 feet away.
"The bang must have been one of them kicking something, and they started swearing and shouting and saying 'We're only here for the f**ing money, get to the f***ing back of the shop'. It went on for about 15 minutes and they left. I'm still shaking now."
A number of people are reported to be standing outside the supermarket clearly shaken up by this morning's raid.
@GMPWythenshawe horrible to see shook up people outside baguley Tesco after the armed robbery, have they been caught?
— paula k ~ ~~ (@pknuts123) November 4, 2014
Greater Manchester Police have just issued a statement on this morning's armed robber.
The force said: "At about 11.15am on Tuesday, November 4, police were called to Tesco on Altrincham Road in Baguley to reports of an armed robbery.
"Officers attended to find three masked men had entered the shop armed with weapons and, after stealing cash, they left in a waiting car.
"No injuries have been reported and enquiries are ongoing."
More eye-witnesses are coming forward now giving details of the "absolutely terrifying" raid.
A 29-year-old man who was in the store's opticians said he said he suddenly heard banging and commotion at the front of the store, before he saw staff and customers running and screaming towards the back of the supermarket.
He made his way to the front where he said he saw three men, armed with machetes, banging on the glass of the Bureau de Change demanding cash.
He said the offenders, who were all around 6 feet tall and wearing balaclava's and tracksuits, waited for around five minutes for a timer on a safe to activate before jumping into a waiting blue car and fleeing with the cash.
The man told the MEN: "Everyone was absolutely terrified.
"There was one member of staff lying on the floor who looked liked she had been hit.
"It was just horrible."
Detectives are said to have blocked off the area around the Tesco on Altrincham Road, with staff led outside following the raid.
Three men entered the supermarket with weapons and got away with an amount of cash, but police have not revealed how much.
The ambulance service says one woman has been taken to hospital following the armed robbery.
The woman, thought to be a distressed shopper, was taken for medical treatment as a precaution.
Police said no-one else has been injured.
Children and pensioners were among those in the store at the time of this morning's raid.
One shopper said they look petrified after being told to stand still and remain silent.
He said: "After about five minutes the woman handed over the cash in a big metal box and [the robbers] ran out and into their getaway car.
"It was about 10 minutes later that the police and ambulance turned up.
"They were trying to calm everyone down and said they were doing their best to catch them."
The Tesco store in Baguley has remained closed since the armed raid this morning, but is expected to reopen any time now.
Luckily no one was injured during the robbery, but one distressed shopper was taken to hospital as a precaution, and the three robbers got away with a sum of cash.
