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Steven Gerrard has been attacked by a thug who threatened him and hurled abuse near his luxury home.

The England and Liverpool captain was not seriously hurt but was left badly shaken by the assault outside a convenience store.

Police are investigating the terrifying incident, which raises concerns about security for Gerrard, 33, and his family.

In a bizarre twist, a police officer was arrested soon after amid an investigation into whether an attempt was made to obtain a CCTV recording of the attack from a nearby shop. She was quizzed by detectives on suspicion of committing misconduct in a public office.

The attacker struck as football star Gerrard, who was alone, got out of his Range Rover in the upmarket village near Liverpool where he lives with wife Alex, 31, and their three young daughters.

Gerrard, expected to captain Liverpool away against Hull City today, was abused, threatened and assaulted before the man ran away.

Officers took a statement from the player after the incident in August and are hunting the attacker for common assault.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said: “As a result of this investigation, a female officer who has been on a career break since early this year is being investigated in relation to potential misconduct in a public office. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”

It is the latest in a series of incidents in which thugs have targeted Gerrard.

In September he had to be held back after a crazed fan scaled a perimeter wall at Liverpool’s training ground and yelled vile threats against his family.

The man sped away on a bike shouting: “I’ll kill you and your f****** kids.”

(Image: Xposure)

Police were called to Gerrard’s heavily protected home in December 2007 after masked raiders burst in and confronted Alex as the couple’s children slept.

Alex was unharmed but it made Gerrard the sixth Liverpool player in succession to be targeted by robbers while the team played abroad.

A source close to the couple later said: “Alex is heartbroken by what’s happened. But she’s trying to be strong for Steven and the kids.”

Gerrard is noted for his professionalism and hard work on the pitch.

But there have been claims that his fame has led to gangsters in Liverpool trying to exert pressure on him.

In 2001, both Steven and Alex – who grew up in the city’s tough Huyton area – faced death threats from members of Liverpool’s underworld.

Police were drafted in to protect Gerrard after a local criminal Mr Big chased him through the streets of Liverpool in his car. Steel gates 10ft high and state-of-the-art security cameras were installed at the star’s £3million mansion.

There were also rumours of threats from gangsters when Gerrard had talks about joining Chelsea in 2004.

Liverpool Football Club and the player’s agent refused to comment on the current police probe.