This archive report was first published on 26 July 2019.
On Thursday, July 25, 2019, a dramatic attempted carjacking unfolded in North London, involving Arsenal players Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac.
According to eyewitnesses, Ozil was driving his black Mercedes when motorbike riders wearing helmets boxed him in. The attackers, wielding knives, attempted to steal the vehicle.
Bosnian defender Kolasinac, who was a passenger, confronted the attackers outside the vehicle, as seen in a video clip accompanying the story.
After the ordeal, Ozil was photographed talking to police outside a Turkish restaurant in Golders Green, where he and Kolasinac had sought refuge.
Witness Azuka Alintah described the scene, saying, “Ozil looked absolutely terrified, as anybody would after being chased by men with knives. He looked like he was running for his life. And I suppose he was.”
Arsenal confirmed that both players were fine and the incident was being treated as a private matter.
Police were called to the scene shortly after 5:00 pm local time and reported that the driver and passenger managed to escape unharmed. No arrests have been made, and enquiries continue.
