Mezut Ozil breaks cover for first time since he got caught up in gang war

Footballer Mesut Ozil has been spotted for the first time since he and his Arsenal teammate Sead Kolasinac got caught up in a gang war.

The Arsenal star was bundled into the back of a car outside his North London home this morning by burly security staff amid ongoing safety concerns.

It comes after Ozil and Kolasinac were targeted by thugs in an attempted carjacking last month, prompting a rival Eastern European gang to warn they were ‘off limits’.

Two men were arrested outside Ozil’s house in North London last week – and security guards and dogs have now been seen outside the stars’ homes in a 24-hour watch. 

Ozil and Kolasinac spent the weekend in hiding, as their team beat Newcastle United 1-0 in their Premier League season opener which the duo were forced to miss.

Ozil outside his home today

Footballer Mesut Ozil has been spotted for the first time since he and his Arsenal teammate Sead Kolasinac got caught up in gang war

The German star was bundled into the back of a car outside his North London home this morning by burly security staff amid ongoing safety concerns

The footballer is guided into the car

The German star was bundled into the back of a car outside his North London home this morning by burly security staff amid ongoing safety concerns

Ozil (seen today) and Kolasinac spent the weekend in hiding, as their team beat Newcastle United 1-0 in their Premier League season opener which the duo were forced to miss

Ozil (seen today) and Kolasinac spent the weekend in hiding, as their team beat Newcastle United 1-0 in their Premier League season opener which the duo were forced to miss

Kolasinac’s wife has fled to Germany because of the terrifying threats, the Sun on Sunday reported. 

The London gang are said to have considered the Eastern Europeans’ warning as an effort to intimidate them, deciding to respond by become even more violent. 

‘To show they were serious, the thugs issued more threats to the Arsenal players and refused to be cowed,’ a source said. 

‘It was thought that originally the robbers wanted their watches but now they have been told that they want everything the pair have.’ 

There are also fears that the players may be targeted online.  Pictures showed Ozil’s gated house under guard over the weekend.

In the car-jacking attack on July 25 the pair were ambushed by robbers as Ozil left his £3million home in a black Mercedes G-Class. 

The players were chased through the mansion-lined streets of north London in a high-speed pursuit as attackers pelted the car with roof tiles to try and break the rear window. 

Security camera footage showing Kolasinac, nicknamed the Tank, confronting the offenders after they approached Ozil’s car.  

Dog patrols have been launched outside Ozil's house in North London with his normal security

Dog patrols have been launched outside Ozil’s house in North London with his normal security

Security staff Mesut Ozil has stepped up his security with 24-hour guards, pictured overnight

Security staff Mesut Ozil has stepped up his security with 24-hour guards, pictured overnight

It comes after Ozil and Kolasinac were targeted by thugs in an attempted carjacking last month (pictured), prompting a rival Eastern European gang to warn they were 'off limits'

It comes after Ozil and Kolasinac were targeted by thugs in an attempted carjacking last month (pictured), prompting a rival Eastern European gang to warn they were ‘off limits’

Ozil (dyed blonde hair) was pictured talking to officers outside Turkish restaurant Likya on Golders Green Road in north London after the car-jacking attack

Ozil (dyed blonde hair) was pictured talking to officers outside Turkish restaurant Likya on Golders Green Road in north London after the car-jacking attack

Ozil (left) and his Arsenal teammate Sead Kolasinac (pictured after their Europa League win over Valencia in May) are under 24-hour guard after they were caught in the gang war

Ozil (left) and his Arsenal teammate Sead Kolasinac (pictured after their Europa League win over Valencia in May) are under 24-hour guard after they were caught in the gang war

Neither midfielder Ozil, 30, nor defender Kolasinac, 26, were harmed.

Despite their terrifying ordeal, Kolasinac posted a defiant picture of the pair smiling on Twitter, which was captioned, ‘Think we’re all fine’. 

Kolasinac, a no-nonsense 6ft Bosnian international, was born in Germany to refugee parents who fled the hardships of the war in their Balkan homeland. 

A further incident occurred on Thursday when two men were arrested after reportedly being involved in an altercation outside Ozil’s house.  

Ferhat Ercan, 27, and Salaman Ekinci, 27, were charged under the Public Order Act the following day. 

They are due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on September 6. 

Arsenal said they would not play against Newcastle on Sunday following ‘security incidents’.

After their terrifying car-jacking ordeal Kolasinac posted a defiant picture of the pair smiling on Twitter, which was captioned, 'Think we're all fine'

After their terrifying car-jacking ordeal Kolasinac posted a defiant picture of the pair smiling on Twitter, which was captioned, ‘Think we’re all fine’ 

Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (right) celebrates scoring with teammates after hitting their winning goal against Newcastle United in a 1-0 victory in the Premier League yesterday

Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (right) celebrates scoring with teammates after hitting their winning goal against Newcastle United in a 1-0 victory in the Premier League yesterday

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