Mesut Özil has drafted in extra security outside his London home after he and Arsenal team-mate Sead Kolasinac were subjected to an attempted car-jacking.
A CCTV video emerged of the incident on social media on Thursday, showing Kolasinac next to Özil’s Mercedes confronting two of the car-jackers who were carrying knives and attempting to steal the vehicle.
Özil’s wife was also in the vehicle and Kolasinac is said to have been picked up from his house. The moped gang then chased the 4×4 for “10 to 15 minutes” and witnesses said they tried to throw roof tiles in an attempt to smash windows.
Özil drove to a local Turkish restaurant he visits regularly called Likya, where they sought refuge while waiting for the police to arrive.
Psychological support
The pair were unharmed and trained as scheduled with the rest of their Arsenal team-mates, and are set to play in the Emirates Cup this weekend.
Kolasinac tweeted they were “fine”, although the club have offered them psychological support if required.
Arsenal will also discuss with their squad how to keep safe and are said to constantly review security measures with independent experts.
A man who lives in the area said that he had been subjected to five similar attacks, including having a knife held to his neck.
Özil had extra security stationed outside his house to act as a deterrent to a follow-up attempt.
A police spokesman said: “It was reported that suspects on motorbikes had attempted to rob a man who was driving a car. The driver, along with his passenger, managed to get away unharmed and travelled to a restaurant in Golders Green, where they were spoken to by officers.”
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