TERRIFIED Gleneagles guests feared a jewel raid gang were terrorists as they burst into the plush hotel waving machetes yesterday.

Tourists ran for cover after three masked robbers dressed in black bolted through the main door and headed to Mappin & Webb’s outlet.

6 Cops in hotel foyer after robbery yesterday

The crooks threatened terrified staff before fleeing to their getaway motor with a haul of luxury watches.

Armed cops were scrambled to the five-star resort as a massive manhunt was launched to nail the culprits.

One guest told how he feared the worst as he saw a blade-wielding raider.

He said: “I couldn’t take it in. I thought ‘Don’t tell me it’s these bloody terrorists’.

6 They threatened staff at the posh jewellery shop

“They were wearing these full-body suits like Superman, all black and masks covering their faces. “It was all very quiet at first. They came running up the stairs right past us. “The lead guy was openly carrying a big sort of machete. “There was a noise, something like a gunshot, but I think it was glass breaking. “That was when people outside became frantic, running about and panicking.

“We just didn’t know what was happening.”

After watching them jump into a waiting car, he added: “They didn’t speed away, they just sort of pulled away. They were well drilled.”

6 They smashed their way into store and grabbed haul of watches

The trio smashed up cabinets and displays to swipe timepieces at the Perthshire resort’s exclusive boutique shortly after 11am yesterday.

A getaway driver then whisked them away in a blue Audi A4.

It was abandoned in a dead end road next to the A9 near Auchterarder, about two minutes from the hotel entrance.

One witness, who asked not to be named, told how she saw the high-powered estate screech to a halt before the suspects sprayed the interior.

She said: “I heard the noise of the car first then saw it come flying down the road towards me. It stopped right at the end of the road and four guys jumped out.

"They were wearing black and their faces were covered.

“Two of them started spraying something inside. I’m not sure what it was or what they were trying to do.

6 Police raced to Gleneagles yesterday morning

“They then ran off towards the A9 but I’m not sure where they went.”

Detectives spent yesterday afternoon quizzing guests and employees as they sealed off the entrance with police tape.

They were also trawling CCTV in a bid to identify the culprits while a police chopper combed the area.

Forensic officers with specialist sniffer dogs were later seen searching an area near Gleneagles station.

A golfer playing nearby, who asked not to be named, revealed pals had heard yells in the area.

He said: “The police were everywhere and there was a helicopter overhead.

“A few friends were very close by when it happened and heard a few people shouting and screaming.

"The staff were very calm after and couldn’t do enough to make sure we were OK."

A groundskeeper, who also wished to remain anonymous, told how cops warned staff not to post on social media.

Officers also demanded that they didn’t pick up any unusual items spotted in the undergrowth.

6 The Mappin & Webb store at Gleneagles

He said: “The police told us if we found any spray cans not to touch them but to let them know. They were searching in the bushes but I don’t know what they were looking for.

He added: “I got here just after the Audi turned up. Police cars were here very quickly but I think it was too late.”

Officers were last night probing how the quartet managed to vanish after fleeing the site.

Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Patrick said: “We know they ran off from the car, but from Auchterarder there are a number of ways of escape — rail, bus, road networks and other vehicles.

“We have launched a major investigation with detectives deployed, uniformed officers and forensics officers to identify the persons responsible.”

He added: “There were staff and guests at the reception so a lot of people saw what happened.

6 The blue Audi estate was believed to be used by the gang after they fled the main building

"Understandably they would be quite shocked.” Guests were briefly evacuated but no one was injured.

A spokeswoman for the hotel — where rooms cost from £445 to more than £2,500 a night — said they were helping police with their inquiries.

She said: “The hotel was evacuated immediately in line with emergency protocol and thankfully nobody was hurt.

“The hotel returned to business as usual within minutes.

”We are continuing to work with Police Scotland in support of their investigation.”

darren.hamilton@the-sun.co.uk

Golf heaven for big hitters

By Lisa Boyle

WORLD famous Gleneagles Hotel can count numerous Royals and celebrities among past guests.

The five-star resort is known for its three championship golf courses and hosted the Ryder Cup in 2014.

Prince William and wife Kate stayed the same year to mark the venue’s 90th anniversary.

Famous visitors include Sir Sean Connery, John Travolta, Andy Murray and Sir Terry Wogan.

It hit headlines in 1996 after Rangers ace Paul Gascoigne attacked then-wife Sheryl in a drunken rage.

She was snapped with a black eye and an arm in a sling after the star’s savage assault.

The hotel was owned for 31 years by drinks giant Diageo, before being sold for £150million to hospitality firm Ennismore in 2015.

Scooter heist thieves foiled

A BRAZEN scooter gang were nailed by armed cops seconds before trying to raid a Mappin & Webb store at another five-star Scots retreat.

Seven hoods targeted the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews, Fife, last March using Italian bikes.

Kevin Mulheron, 34, of Govan, Glasgow, and six London-based accomplices got a total of 47 years in jail for conspiracy to rob.

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