West Ham United striker Andy Carroll was reportedly threatened at gunpoint on Wednesday.
According to the Daily Mail, Carroll was confronted by two motorcyclists, one of whom was carrying a gun, as he returned home from training.
He managed to flee in his Mercedes G-Wagon.
The former England international was left “shaken and stunned” by the ordeal.
Police are investigating the incident and are also expected to increase patrols and security around West Ham’s training ground in Rush Green, Essex.
Carroll was driving home when the motorcyclists pulled up to his car at a junction and demanded he pull over. The 27-year-old reacted by speeding off in a bid to escape.
Carroll made contact with several other vehicles as he turned and headed back towards the London club’s training facilities.
The bike raiders couldn’t keep pace with the former Liverpool striker, who was driving his £100,000 Mercedes.
Upon arriving at the training ground, Carroll ran to the reception and asked for help.
His West Ham teammates are said to have been “alarmed” by the proceedings, finding it difficult to take in Carroll’s ordeal.
Police were called at 12:45pm and a response team was sent out.
A club statement said: “West Ham United can confirm an incident targeting one of our players on Wednesday 2 November. The matter is now being handled by the police.”
The striker’s rough season was made worse on Wednesday. He hasn’t played in the Premier League since the opening day defeat to Chelsea and isn’t ready for Saturday’s game against Stoke.
Carroll, who has started just 38 games since signing for West Ham in 2013, is currently out with a knee injury.
Hammers boss Slaven Bilic provided an update on Carroll’s situation recently.
“He’s progressing but it’s not at the speed that we wanted,” Bilic said, per the Daily Mail. “He’s working hard and getting better every day but he’s still not ready to train with us.
“I’m speaking to him and to the medical team every day about it. We expected him to be back on the pitch but hopefully in a few weeks’ time he will be back.”
Carroll spent Wednesday night recovering from the distressing ordeal at his home.