UPDATE: Detectives have today charged four men who were arrested during a coordinated police operation overnight.
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The four men aged between 17 and 22 have been charged with aggravated armed robbery after allegedly storming a takeaway shop in Girraween last night.
Just before midnight, police will allege staff were threatened by the armed men before detectives, who were conducting a planned surveillance operation in the area at the time, intervened and arrested the four offenders.
A further charge of aggravated armed robbery was laid against the 22-year-old man and one of the 19-year-old men in relation to a separate alleged armed hold up that occurred at an Armidale business on September 7.
All four men have been refused bail to front court today.
See the full story in Saturday's edition of The Leader.
EARLIER: Four men have been arrested in Armidale during a coordinated police operation targeting a spate of armed robberies in recent weeks.
New England police confirmed to The Leader early on Friday morning that a planned undercover operation had unravelled at a shopping complex in Queen Elizabeth Dr in Armidale, culminating in four arrests on Thursday night.
Police will allege four armed men stormed a food outlet in the complex and threatened staff at about 11.40pm on Thursday.
Detectives have been investigating several armed robberies in the city over the last month.
Undercover officers were stationed at strategic points within the complex as part of a planned surveillance operation and immediately swooped, arresting the four men, including a 17-year-old boy without incident.
The men were searched and a knife, a brick, and two pieces of timber were seized from the scene and will now undergo forensic testing.
Two men aged 19, a 22-year-old man and the 17-year-old youth were taken to Armidale Police Station where they are assisting detectives with their inquiries.
Charges are expected to be laid.