By Mark McLaughlin

A DUNDEE shop-owner feared for her life when her store was robbed at knifepoint last night.

Ummu Aniff, co-owner of the General Merchant & Tobacconists store at the corner of Clepington Road and Arklay Street, is convinced she would have been stabbed if she had not followed the robber’s demands.

She also feared her five-year-old son Zaki, who regularly visits the store after school, would come in to find his mother at the mercy of the attacker.

She escaped with only minor injuries after the man slashed her finger during the incident.

Mrs Aniff, who was still visibly shaken last night, told The Courier, “The man came in about 15 minutes before the robbery and asked for change for the phone.

“I saw him hanging around outside but I thought he was waiting for someone. I didn’t suspect he would do such a thing when he was in at first.

“He was well dressed, cleanly shaven and didn’t look like a druggie.

“When he came in again, he asked me for some Amber Leaf tobacco and when I turned around to ask him which type he ran around to the other side of the till with the knife.

“He held the knife out and demanded money, and then began frantically pressing buttons on the till with the butt of the knife.

“I just wanted him out of my shop as soon as possible so I approached him to open the till, and he lashed out with the knife and slashed my finger.”

The incident happened around 5pm yesterday and the robber escaped with almost a full day’s takings, a three-figure sum, and Mrs Aniff’s mobile phone.

She took over the store around six months ago along with her husband Hassan.

The couple normally run the store together but the robber seized on the opportunity to strike while Hassan was at the cash and carry collecting stock.

They said they will not let the attack deter them from the trading and it will be business as usual this morning.

Hassan said, “The people have been really nice during the few months that we’ve been here, and this is the first trouble that we’ve had at the store.

“I’m really angry and we’re both a bit shaken up by it, but what are you going to do?”

Hassan added, “All I care about is my family and as long as Ummu is not hurt then everything will be fine.”

Police have released a description of the offender.

He is described as a 25 to 30-year-old male, about 5ft 10in and of slim build.

Police believe he made off with the money on foot along Arklay Street.

They also wish to speak to potential witnesses in the area at the time, and in particular a male who entered the shop soon after the suspect left.

The witness, who used the cash machine before leaving the shop, has been described as about 6ft, of slim build with shoulder length black hair, and aged in his mid- 20s.

Anyone with information in relation to this crime please contact police on 01382 223200.