Two armed men made away with more than 50,000 euros in cash early yesterday after holding up a restaurant in The Mall shopping center in Maroussi, northern Athens, police said.

The men, both wearing balaclavas, entered the restaurant shortly before closing time, at about 2 a.m., and threatened staff and patrons at gunpoint.

Police said that there was a large amount of cash on the premises because it had been collected over the previous three days.

The restaurant, which was not named, is located in Greece’s biggest entertainment and shopping complex, which opened last November and draws tens of thousands of shoppers every week.

Authorities are now reviewing footage taken from security cameras in The Mall in a bid to identify the thieves.