A group of armed robbers on motorbikes smashed their way into an east London shop with a hammer and stole about £200,000 worth of jewellery this morning.
Six men armed with a hammer, knives and guns broke into Ukay International Jewellers in Whitechapel Road at about 9.40am.
Seven people were working in the shop at the time, one of whom was hit.
The attackers made off on motorbikes after the raid close to Whitechapel Market.
Manager Ahfaz Miah told the Standard the store had never been targeted by thieves before.
He said: "Just after we opened at 9.30am the armed group came into the shop, roughly six of them. Two of them were waiting outside. They smashed their way in with a hammer.
"They came in and threw a punch and we tried to defend ourselves."
Among the items stolen were some 22 carat gold rings, he said.
Detectives from Tower Hamlets CID and the Metropolitan Police's Flying Squad are investigating.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard confirmed they were called to reports of a robbery at 9.40am but the suspects had left the scene before police arrived.
He said a worker had suffered minor injuries in the incident.
No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
