A man has been taken into police custody following a disturbing incident at one of the UK's busiest travel hubs, where several individuals were assaulted with a substance believed to be pepper spray.
Armed Response at Major Airport
The Metropolitan Police were called to the multi-storey car park at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 3 at 8.11am on Sunday, 7 December 2025. Reports indicated that a group of men had assaulted multiple people using what officers described as "a form of pepper spray" before fleeing the scene.
Armed police units attended promptly. They discovered a number of victims who had been sprayed with the irritant. The London Ambulance Service also responded, and those affected were transported to hospital for treatment. Authorities have stated that the injuries sustained are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
Airport Operations and Police Investigation
In the aftermath, Heathrow Airport issued a statement on the social media platform X, advising passengers to allow extra time for their journeys and to contact their airlines directly with any queries. While the airport confirmed its teams were managing the situation, police noted there was some disruption to traffic. However, Terminal 3 remained open for operations.
Commander Peter Stevens provided further details, suggesting the altercation likely stemmed from a dispute between acquaintances. "At this stage, we believe the incident involved a group of people known to each other, with an argument escalating and resulting in a number of people being injured," he said.
Reassurance and Continued Hunt
Commander Stevens moved to reassure the public, explicitly confirming that the incident is not being treated as terrorism. He thanked those in the area for their cooperation and stated that an increased police presence would be maintained at Heathrow throughout the morning to continue inquiries and ensure safety.
The investigation remains active, with police hunting for other suspects connected to the attack. The arrested man remains in custody for questioning.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101, quoting the reference CAD 1803 7 DEC.
