Ottawa police are investigating after three armed gun-men allegedly robbed a grocery store and tied up employees in the city's east end early Thursday morning.

Police say they found six employees bound and confined to a closed area of the grocery store in the 1600 block of Orleans Boulevard when they arrived on the scene at about 5:40 a.m.

Investigators say they are looking into whether the robbery is linked to two similar incidents at a Food Basics grocery store on Merivale Road in December.

The tree suspects, who police say were armed with guns, fled the scene before officers arrived.

Two of the suspects are described as English-speaking males between 20 and 22 years old. One is six-feet tall, the other is described as five-foot-six. Both were wearing black balaclavas and black gloves at the time of the incident.

Police don't have a description of the third suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ottawa police at 613-236-1222, ext. 5116 or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-TIPS.