THREE men who were arrested as part of a robbery and attempted murder investigation, have been released on police bail.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad swooped on two homes in Rayside, Basildon, last Friday and arrested three men, aged 25, 38 and 49. Later they executed warrants.

The arrests came after a shopkeeper was blasted in the chest with a sawn-off shot gun during a robbery at Show Supermarket, in Plaistow, east London, on Halloween.

Officers also raided homes in Crown Close, Pitsea, and Brownlow Green, Basildon, as part of the operation.

The men were taken to a police station in north London where they were questioned by officers.

They have now been released on police bail until the beginning of October, pending further inquiries.

A 51-year-old shopkeeper was left in a coma for two weeks after he was shot as he chased two armed robbers from Show Supermarket in High Street, Plaistow.

Two men entered the victim’s shop.

One threatened the shop owner and his 40-year-old shop assistant with the sawn-off shotgun while the other kept watch.

The victims fought back and both suspects fled empty-handed.

They were chased by the victims and the shop owner was shot at close range.

He has been left with lifechanging injuries.