NEW ZEALAND – A New Zealand Muslim’s courage to ignore a gun-wielding masked man was so unexpected, forcing the armed robber to flee the shop, a CCTV video footage released by police revealed.

“He came into my shop and took out a gun from a bag and asked me to give him money,” Said Ahmed, who runs the Egyptian Kebab House in Christchurch, explained to the BBC on Tuesday, July 12.

“I’m not a hero. I just stayed calm and he wasn’t expecting that.”

Ahmed became a celebrated hero after CCTV footage was released by Canterbury police on their Facebook page.

It has been viewed 2280,000 times and has more than 990 shares.

The CCTV footage from inside the shop showed that Ahmed wasn’t fazed by the gun-wielding masked man demanding money.

It showed the cool kebab shop owner placing an order into a bag and handing it to a waiting customer, as the would-be robber continues to make his demands for cash.

“I am a businessman. I hadn’t finished with my customer and my priority was to finish serving him,” Ahmed said.

“When the customer left I walked to the kitchen to call the police. I told him too and he couldn’t believe it.

“For a moment I was scared he might shoot but then I just thought if that happens then it is my destiny, but my calm reaction just surprised him I think and he just ran away.”

Though police are still looking for the robber, Ahmed is quickly becoming a celebrity in his local community.

“Customers have been telling me how brave I am but I don’t think I am brave. It just happened and I didn’t really think anything of it,” he said

“It was a surprise because nothing like this has ever happened to me in the 15 years I have owned the shop.

“It has made me a little bit famous though and that is quite nice.”