THE house of football star Nwankwo Kanu was raided in a terrifying attack by masked burglars on Sunday.

The £30,000-a-week Arsenal and Nigeria striker lives in a six-bedroom house in Beech Hill, Hadley Wood.

Shortly before 10.50pm, at least three men in masks and balaclavas forced their way into the star's mansion.

Mr Kanu was out at the time, but his brother, said to be in his mid-20s, was tied up by the robbers in one of the bedrooms and threatened with a handgun.

The men then demanded the keys to a top-of-the-range Mercedes Jeep, which at the time was not there. Police believe that either the house had been watched or the car followed before the strike at the weekend.

When they realised they were not going to get the car, the men left and Mr Kanu's brother was able to wriggle free and phone a relative who alerted the police.

A police spokeswoman said: "The victim was not injured but he is obviously quite shaken."

Although it has not yet been confirmed, the men are thought to have stolen cash, mobile phones and clothes.

The hit on the Highbury hero's house comes just a week after several carjackings in one night in the Enfield and north London area and, whilst police are not officially connecting the two groups, a spokesman for Scotland Yard said: "It is worrying and we are working on it the best we can, with all methods we have available to us, including intelligence and surveillance."

A spokeswoman for the player said: "He won't be making a statement. He does not want to say anything."

This is the second time that Mr Kanu's house has been targeted by burglars in three years, and the house of his Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry, who lives in Hampstead, was also raided recently.

The burglary is being investigated by the CID at Enfield, and if you were a witness or have any information, contact DCI Mark Holmes on 8345 4421.

Chris Cresswell

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