Terrified customers eating their breakfasts watched in horror as a young man fleeing two masked gunmen burst into the cafe shouting: "Save me, save me."
Fearing for his life, he barricaded the door shut but the pair, dressed in balaclavas and casually armed with handguns,
Witnesses told how one of the gunmen briefly placed a pistol on the side of a dining table as they forced the man out of the shop and bundled him into a waiting BMW outside.
This all happened just after midday today in front of around a dozen stunned customers tucking into all-day breakfasts at Blanche's Cafe on Regent Road, Bootle.
The customer, who said he worked on the docks, said: "I was eating sausage, egg and beans when this lad burst into the cafe. He was shouting 'save me, save me.'
"He then tried to stop another guy from coming into the cafe by blocking the door. But then a second man started forcing the door, and they then burst into the cafe.
"They both had balaclavas on, and both had guns. They were semi-automatic type pistols. They started grabbing hold of the lad, but there was a real struggle.
"Customers hid behind the counter"
"At this point all the customers started running toward the back of the cafe - some hid behind the counter.
"One of the masked men put his gun down on a table during the struggle for a moment so he could grab hold of the lad. The victim was screaming 'save me save me' and wanted someone to call the police.
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"When they had a firm grip on him they dragged him out of the cafe and threw him in the back of BMW. They then roared off. The victim was only young - I think he was early 20s."
There was a large police presence at the cafe after the incident. Forensic officers could be seen working inside the cafe and taking photographs.
Police confirmed they were called out to the cafe today at 12.10pm today following reports of a man with a gun chasing another man.
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One witness praised armed police for their quick response and said it felt like they had arrived within seconds.
He said: "A few minutes armed police arrived. I remember the girls were still serving breakfasts up as the place filled with armed police.
"One of the armed officers showed me his side arm and asked me if the lads had the same type of gun. I said yes it was.
"I think we would have tried to help him, but the guns put us off"
"The police told me the lad had been spotted nearby and was then chased into the cafe.
"I think we would have tried to help him, but the guns put us off. I felt sick after and was unable to eat my food."
A man working nearby said to the ECHO: "I was out on the Dock Road all morning.
"I went inside to eat my butty at around noon, and came out ten minutes later to find armed police everywhere. I saw them going inside the cafe."
Police said: "Police were called to Blanche’s Cafe on Regent Road at 12.10pm today, Tuesday 26th March, to reports a male had been chased into the café by a second male. It is believed the second male was carrying a firearm.
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"Both males left the cafe a short time later. Nobody in the café was injured.
"Enquiries are ongoing to identify the two males involved and establish the full circumstances of the incident. We would particularly like to speak to any lorry drivers in the area who may have witnessed this incident and hold dashcam footage.
"Police were called to Blanche’s Cafe on Regent Road at 12.10pm today, Tuesday 26th March, to reports a male had been chased into the café by a second male.
"It is believed the second male was carrying a firearm.
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"Both males left the cafe a short time later. Nobody in the cafe was injured.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
