Property owner ‘attacked five times’ near scene of Kolasinac and Ozil incident

The owner of a London property outside which Arsenal footballers Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac were attacked has said he has been targeted five times in the same area. The property owner, who chose not to be named, told PA he had a knife held to his neck in one incident, and called for police to “pull their finger out” after a spate of crimes in that part of north-west London. Kolasinac fought off two men wielding knives after he and Arsenal teammate Ozil were confronted by masked aggressors on Platts Lane, Hampstead, shortly before 5pm on Thursday. 👊🏼Think we‘re fine 😁 #M1Ö #SeoKol pic.twitter.com/tKRlM0LGMl — Sead Kolašinac (@seadk6) July 26, 2019 “I’ve been done five times myself,” he told PA. “I had a knife held to my neck at midday at the traffic lights, I was physically thrown in a bus lane at 6.30am when I was coming out of my office – the list goes on and on. “The last time (it happened) I was at the property,” he added. The man, who no longer resides at the house, said he was “targeted” and did not think the incident with the footballers was linked as his attackers were arrested and “went down for 16 years”. However, he said the attacks were “all in the Hampstead area” and added that he drives “very high profile” cars with “very, very personalised number plates”. An #AFC spokesperson confirms Ozil and Kolasinac involved in carjacking. “We have been in contact with both players and they are fine.” — Mark Mann-Bryans (@MarkyMBryans) July 25, 2019 “I think it’s about time the police pulled their finger out and started to protect people who are entitled to protection,” he said. “The situation has gone too far and I don’t believe the police can ever get on top of this situation, it’s out of control.” A video of Thursday’s incident which has been circulated on social media shows the moment Kolasinac jumped out of a car to confront the masked aggressors, after they had pulled alongside the car on mopeds. Following news coverage of the attack, Kolasinac tweeted a picture of the pair smiling, adding: “Think we’re fine.” Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac were targeted by would-be thieves on Thursday (Adam Davy/PA) A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police 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.” An Arsenal spokesman said: “We have been in contact with both players and they are fine.” Topics Arsenal, Mesut Özil, Police, Sead Kolasinac, Premier League Arsenal say Ozil and Kolasinac ‘fine’ after Bosnian confronts armed aggressors Video: Arsenal’s Kolasinac fearlessly fights off knife-wielding thugs to protect Mesut Ozil Restaurant owner says she “could die for” Mesut Ozil following attack on Arsenal players Arsenal 3 Burnley 1: Aubameyang bags brace as Emery’s men bounce back St Johnstone sign Estonia defender Madis Vihmann Irving determined to prove worth after signing new Hearts deal Liverpool face growing criticism over plans to trademark name Liverpool face growing criticism over plans to trademark name Holt demands ‘no sympathy, no compassion’ against hapless Berwick Fantasy football team names: 49 excellent (and awful) ideas for yours this season Arsenal ready €40m bid for Brazilian who sees Gunners as first choice – report Ranked! The 101 greatest football players of the last 25 years: full list 6 Premier League signings who bounced back to star in their second season Manchester United have a clear message for Inter Milan about Romelu Lukaku – and may have identified his replacement