At first we thought it was a firecracker (From Essex County Standard)

At first we thought it was a firecracker

10:00pm Monday 17th September 2012 in News

A TAKEAWAY manager feels lucky to be alive after seeing shots fired at a town centre bar.

TP Sports Bar was targeted as customers were making their way out of the bar and into Sahara Grill.

Usman Ghani, 31, manager of the takeaway, said everyone was terrified to see a gun pointing out of a car in Queen Street, Colchester, on Saturday morning.

He recalled: “The bricks came out of the wall like dust.

“At first we thought it was a fire cracker thrown at the building. By the second shot, we realised it was something else and called police.

“The car slowed down, someone pointed the gun out of a car window and fired. There were big blasts, it was shocking. Everyone was scared. It could have been fired at anyone.”

Usman Muhammad, 22, was working inside the takeaway at the time. He added: “It was busy. There were about ten people inside the takeaway and about 20 people outside.

“I was inside making deliveries and heard a noise. I went outside and saw all the dust from the bricks. I could smell the gun powder but I thought it was a fire cracker. No-one thought it was real.

“I work here every weekend and there is never any trouble. It is quite a shock.”