A MASKED armed robber pointed a gun at a shopkeeper's head and pulled the trigger - but it failed to go off.

The Evening Times can today reveal chilling details of how the gunman fired the pistol three times at Naser Hussain during the botched robbery at a newsagents in Yoker, Glasgow.

As reported in late editions of yesterday's Evening Times, police warned the shop could have been full of children at the time of the armed incident as the hunt for the gunman continued.

Glasgow Times:

Naser, 23, from Pollokshields, above, was shot in the leg as he defended his business and yesterday underwent emergency surgery.

His shocked mother, Musarat Hussain, said the gunman tried to fire at her son's head and chest before finally blasting him above his knee.

She told the Evening Times: "It was such a shock and we all got such a fright. I haven't been able to eat or sleep since it happened.

"I have spoken to Naser from his hospital bed and I feel much better now I have heard his voice."

A source close to the investigation said the victim was lucky to survive the "Russian roulette-style" incident.

They added: "It is possible the gun failed, but it is also possible the firearm only had a single bullet."

Glasgow Times:

The gunman burst into the KOF Convenience Store, above, in Dumbarton Road at about 11.20am yesterday.

He threatened staff and demanded cash and cigarettes, before shooting Naser .

But the would-be raider then fled empty-handed.

Musarat, 46, also told how the family store had been targeted by thieves once before.

She said: "In 2011, the shop was robbed, again for cigarettes.

"But no one was hurt, there was only a bit of pushing and shoving - definitely no guns."

Naser, who studies at Cardonald College and works in the shop at weekends, will remain in hospital for "some time", his family said.

Detective Inspector Brian Gallagher, who is leading the hunt for the gunman, said: “For someone to discharge a firearm over cash and cigarettes from a corner shop is just deplorable.

“One person injured is bad enough, but this could have involved others, including children who could have been in the shop at the time.”

The shop re-opened yesterday morning, but staff were too upset to speak about the shooting.

One customer said: “Everyone who lives around here goes to this shop, including families and old folk. It’s scary to think how much worse it could have been.”

The gunman was described as a young white man, about 5ft 8in and of thin build. He was wearing a black hooded jacket, black tracksuit trousers and had his face covered.

After fleeing the shop he headed along Dumbarton Road towards Clydebank.

The shopkeeper managed to raise the alarm and was rushed by ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Govan.

Police stressed his injuries are not life-threatening and medical staff described his condition as stable.

Mr Gallagher added: “Officers are carrying out door to door inquiries and checking CCTV in an effort to trace this man, who obviously has no concern for staff in the shop or the public.

“We are still trying to establish whether he ran off or had a car nearby.

“The shop is on a busy road and there may have been a few people about. It’s possible the man had been hanging about prior to the incident, so if you have seen him or have any information that will help us, it is important you contact police.”