A three-year-old girl was among 21 people injured after a suspected pepper spray attack at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 3 on Sunday, causing severe travel disruption. Armed police were called to the multi-storey car park at around 8.11am following reports that a group of men had sprayed a substance believed to be pepper spray.
The London Ambulance Service confirmed five people were taken to hospital, but injuries are not thought to be life-changing or life-threatening. Police believe the incident began when a woman was robbed of her suitcase in a car park lift by four men, who sprayed the substance in her direction. The attack is not believed to be terrorism or protest-related.
A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and remains in custody. Officers are still tracing further suspects. The incident prompted the closure of roads and rail services to the airport, with trains and buses halted and routes into the central area temporarily closed.
Travellers were advised to allow extra time, and many reported being stranded for hours at bus stops. Witness Tom Bate described seeing 'young men dressed in black darting through the crowd' and feeling a burning sensation in his throat. 'It felt like I was in the middle of an attack – it was pretty intense,' he told the BBC.
Heathrow staff handed out bottled water to waiting passengers, while at least 17 trains serving Terminals 2 and 3 were cancelled or ran through without stopping. Commander Peter Stevens of the Metropolitan Police said: 'We do believe this to be an isolated incident with those directly involved known to each other.'
By midday, the incident was contained, but congestion remained on surrounding roads. Heathrow advised passengers to use public transport and said there would be an increased police presence to reassure the public.
