A HERO shopkeeper hid two terrified women who were chased through a Glasgow street by a man allegedly wielding “meat cleavers”.

Bilal Yousaf was inside his Garnethill newsagents when the women burst through the door screaming “please help us”.

He told them to hide in the back, locked the doors and made sure he had glass bottles to hand to defend them if the knifeman tried to enter the shop.

Police rushed to Hill Street at 8.30am yesterday after frantic calls from members of the public who said there was a masked man brandishing weapons near to St Aloysius School.

A Glasgow School of Art staff member was reported to have been left “shaken” after encountering the man on his way to work.

Bilal, 35, who owns Billy’s Mini Market on Rose Street, said the frantic women told him the armed man was chasing another man with in a suit before he turned on them as they walked near St Aloysius Church.

Police say a 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an alleged breach of the peace and allegedly being in possession of offensive weapons.While he was being detained an officer suffered a minor injury.

The shopkeeper told the Evening Times: “I was just sitting looking on my phone when two women burst in screaming “please help us”. They said a man wearing a mask was chasing them with meat cleavers.

“The women ran to the back of the shop and hid behind a cash machine. I locked the door and told them they were safe, but they were still crying and shaking.

“I have never seen anyone so frightened.”

“I made sure I had some glass bottles beside me in case he came to the door. I told the ladies “he’ll have to get through me first before he gets to you”.”

Bilal said: “The ladies said the man was wearing a mask. They said he was chasing a man in a suit, who was carrying a briefcase, but he ran away the man turned and chased them.”

The shopkeeper said he wanted to open the door and get other people in off the street for safety but the terrified women screamed at him to keep it shut.

He said recognised the two women as local residents. One is said to be in her 40s and another in her 30s. Bilal stayed with the women with the door locked until police officers arrived.

They took a statement from him and took the women away as he said they were “still very shaky”.

Chief Inspector Mark Sutherland, area commander for Glasgow City Centre thanked local people who “acted quickly to ensure the safety of others”.

He said: “From our investigations so far we do not believe that the 27-year-old man’s actions were targeting any particular individual, or premises, and a full investigation is ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”

Police remained in the area last night.

A spokeswoman for St Aloysius’ College said all pupils and staff were safe.”