Said Ahmed tells how he ignored pistol-wielding masked man, continued making a large chicken souvlaki for someone else, then turned and walked away

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

A takeaway shop owner has spoken about how he “took away the power” of an armed would-be robber by simply ignoring him.

Said Ahmed of Christchurch, New Zealand, decided to finish serving a customer before walking away from the counter – while a masked man brandishing a handgun stood by.

Footage of the incident posted by police on social media showed how Ahmed, originally from Egypt, even appeared to smile as the event unfolded. “The man wanted to frighten me and I decided he couldn’t do that,” Ahmed told the Guardian.

“I passed the customer his food because I wanted him to leave the shop and not be in any danger.”

The attempted robbery happened on a Saturday night at the Egyptian Kebab House takeaway shop in Christchurch.

Ahmed was working alone, preparing a large chicken souvlaki for a customer. The street was quiet, the other kebab shops had closed an hour before and Ahmed was tired and wanted to go home.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A would-be armed robber walks away after threatening a takeaway worker in Christchurch, New Zealand. Photograph: Canterbury Police/Facebook

On the 26-second video an armed, masked person approaches the counter at 10.38pm. Ahmed gives him a cursory glance and appears to smile. He sees the pistol in his hand – and decides to ignore it.

Ahmed, who emigrated from Egypt to New Zealand 20 years ago and has a degree in agricultural engineering, calmly continues preparing the chicken souvlaki and avoids looking at the man. The wannabe robber shuffles his feet and holds the gun loosely in his palm, seemingly confused by Ahmed’s insouciance.



I turned my back on the robber and walked to the kitchen Said Ahmed, shop owner

After holding out a package to a customer, Ahmed simply leaves the front counter. “I turned my back on the robber and walked to the kitchen to call the police. I told myself, ‘If he shoots me at least my body will be further away, and the gun shot won’t be as serious as shooting me at close range in my heart or my head.’”

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Defeated by Ahmed’s refusal to panic, the armed man quickly leaves the shop.

“The robber was very confused by my behaviour. He wanted to scare me but I wasn’t scared, so I took away his power,” said Ahmed.

Ahmed said he had witnessed years of violence in Egypt before emigrating to New Zealand, and the quiet predictability of his life in Christchurch influenced his low-key reaction.

“My heart was beating quickly, I was scared, but I wasn’t going to show him that. That is why my nature is cool. I have been 20 years here and never seen any fighting. In Egypt it happens every day but in New Zealand I am calm because it is a safe country.”

Since the incident Ahmed has closed the takeaway shop earlier on Friday and Saturday nights.

Yasmin, his 19-year-old daughter, said the video of the attempted robbery scared her but the unfazed reaction of her father was typical.

“When he walks away it was brave, but risky. You can see the robber was appalled by the reaction, that he got no response even though he had a gun. His only choice was to leave.”

Canterbury police are continuing to investigate.

• This article was amended on 14 July 2016 to correct the name of the takeaway shop.