Four men have pleaded guilty to using CS spray at Heathrow Airport, an incident that left 21 people requiring medical treatment. Tyrone Richards, 31, Anton Clarke-Butcher, 25, Omoneke Whyte, 30, and Denzel Eduardo, 28, each admitted a charge of affray during a hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday.
Details of the Incident
The attack occurred on December 7 last year in a multi-storey car park at terminal three of the west London airport. Ambulance staff treated 21 individuals who had been exposed to the noxious substance. Five of those treated were taken to hospital, according to the London Ambulance Service.
CS spray is a man-made chemical used by UK police forces to temporarily incapacitate individuals, similar to pepper spray. Prosecutor Mark Trafford KC told the court: “In the course of this affray, it is accepted by these defendants that CS gas was used and discharged in and outside of the airport, as a result of which two suitcases were taken from the complainants.”
Impact on Airport Operations
Judge Kwame Inyundo noted that the incident caused “injury” to the complainants and the wider public, and affected the functioning of the airport at the time. The Metropolitan Police previously confirmed that armed officers were called to the scene, but the incident was not treated as terrorism.
Passengers faced disruption, including delays to shuttle buses and trains. According to the UK Health Security Agency, CS gas is an irritant that can cause a burning sensation in the eyes, chest tightness, coughing, and sneezing. It is one of the substances sometimes referred to as tear gas.
Sentencing
The four defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on September 11 at the same court.
