A man has been arrested on suspicion of assault after people were allegedly attacked with a 'form of pepper spray' at a multistorey car park at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 3, police have said.
The Metropolitan Police said armed officers were called to the terminal's car park at about 8.11am to a report of people being assaulted. A group of men allegedly sprayed people with what was believed to be a kind of pepper spray before leaving the scene.
The London Ambulance Service said it treated 21 patients, of whom five were taken to hospital. Among those treated was a three-year-old girl. Commander Peter Stevens said it was understood that a woman was robbed of her suitcase by a group of four men, who sprayed a substance believed to be pepper spray in her direction within a car park lift.
Police believe the incident involved people known to each other and was isolated. The victims' injuries are not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening. Inquiries continue to trace further suspects.
Witness Tom Bate, 27, who had just landed from the US, described seeing three men without luggage running past the lift lobby, after which people began coughing and his throat burned. He said heavily armed police officers arrived and told him there had been an attack.
Heathrow Airport remained open throughout, though the incident caused some traffic and public transport disruption. Passengers are advised to allow extra time and check with their airline.
