KUALA NERUS (Terengganu): Seven men armed with pistols and machetes fled with about RM1.14 million after robbing a hypermarket in Gong Badak, here early this morning.

The robbers, believed to be foreign nationals based on their accent, attacked at 2.15am. They prised open two automatic teller machines and three steel safes, using oxy-acetylene gas torches with a steel-cutter after tying up four security guards, locking them up in a store nearby.

Terengganu CID chief ACP Wan Abd Aziz Wan Hamzah said police believed that the suspects split up and took four hours to carry out the robbery. He said the suspects had also disabled the closed circuit camera and alarms before proceeding with the robbery.

“The suspects left the scene about 6.30am with cash estimated at RM1.14 million…we believed the suspects used steel hammers, crowbars, a steel-cutter machine and oxy-acetylene gas torches. We believe that the robbery was carefully planned. Investigations are being carried out now on the staff and former staff of the supermarket,” he said.