A machete-wielding gang who attempted to rob police officers carrying out surveillance on them have been jailed.
Patrick Delaney, 30, led eight masked criminals behind a string of robberies and aggravated burglaries in well-heeled areas of north London.
Victims included ex-Arsenal footballer Mesut Ozil and his teammate Sead Kolasinac who were targeted for luxury watches worth £200,000.
Detective Sergeant Gary Taylor, of the Met’s Flying Squad, said: “The way this gang targeted their victims and threatened them with weapons during their crime spree was truly shocking and abhorrent.
“The impact these heinous crimes have had on the victims cannot be understated.
“These defendants wrongly thought they wouldn’t be caught.
“However, Flying Squad officers were able to close the net on these robbers and bring them into custody after a proactive surveillance operation.
“I would like to praise the victims for supporting this prosecution, and I hope these convictions will go some way to giving them some comfort. Across London, officers are working hard to keep the public safe by identifying people involved in serious violence and bringing them to justice.”