A MOTHER was ‘lost for words’ when she was told a robber had pulled a gun on her terrified son.

Shop owner Sajda Ashraf, who co-runs Blackburn’s Hanna’s Convenience Store, was horrified after finding out a weapon had been brandished at her 15-year-old boy in her own store.

Her teenage son, Zenul, was working behind the counter of the Infirmary Street shop when a man walked in and pulled out a dark silver handgun at around 4.30pm on Sunday.

The gunman had asked Zenul for cigarettes before he pulled out the gun from his waistband and demanded cash.

Before any money was handed over the robber fled when he learnt Zenul was not alone after he shouted for his older brother, Tayab, who was at the back of the store changing his top.

Tayab, 18, then called the police and their mother, who had left the shop for just 10 minutes to pick up her daughter from a relative’s house.

Mrs Ashraf, who has lived at the store with her husband for eight years, described the incident as ‘upsetting’.

The 40-year-old said: “I’m lost for words really. What is a mother meant to think? I was in the shop for most of the day and just left to go to pick up my daughter, which took 10 minutes, when on the way back home Tayab rang me and told me to get home quick.

“My son was very brave but I was upset and shocked about it.”

The mum-of-four said Zenul took the day off from school yesterday because he was too ‘shaken’ up’ about the incident.

She added: “He did not sleep well on Sunday night. He was shocked and quite disturbed.

“I said he should go to school and take his mind off it but he said he was too shaken up by what happened.”

This is the second time store workers at Hanna’s have been threatened by robbers after a knife-wielding man attacked Mrs Ashraf and stole £1,000 from the till in 2015.

Mrs Ashraf added: “I just want this person caught. He is walking around with a weapon and he shouldn’t be out on the streets.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Police yesterday released CCTV images of the suspect, who is thought to be around 30.

Detective Constable Andy Bleasdale said: “Thankfully this man didn’t manage to get away with anything but the boy has understandably been left quite shaken up.

“If you recognise the man or you have any information that could assist us with our investigation please call 101.”