Footballer Andy Carroll threatened at gunpoint on way home from training

West Ham and England footballer Andy Carroll, 27, was on Wednesday threatened at gunpoint on his way home from training while driving his £100,000 Mercedes -Benz G-Class.

Just minutes after leaving West Ham's Essex training ground, two bikers pulled up alongside the striker and then one of them pointed a gun at him.

The striker, then immediately sped off in panic with the two bikers in heavy pursuit, but he managed to lose them. He immediately returned to the well secured Essex training ground.

His team-mates were alarmed as they struggled to grasp his word while the club staff immediately rushed to his aid. 

The incident left the striker 'shaken' and the club have now confirmed the incident with plans to beef up security around the striker already underway.

A club spokesman said: 

“We can confirm an incident targeting one of our players on Wednesday. The matter is being handled by police.”

 A spokeswoman for MET police added:

 “‘The two men threatened the driver. The motorcyclists attempted to block the car as the driver sought to get away. The suspects rode off prior to the arrival of police. ’There has been no arrest at this stage.”