Twenty hurt after pepper spray attack at Heathrow

A three-year-old girl was among 21 people injured after a suspected pepper spray attack at Heathrow airport which caused Severe travel disruption for passengers.

- NICOLE WOOTTON-CANE SIMON CALDER DAN HAYGARTH

Armed police were called to the scene at around 8:11am yesterday after reports that several people had been sprayed with the substance by a group of men in the multi-storey car park at the transport hub’s Terminal 3.

Five people were taken to hospital after 21 people were injured, London Ambulance Service said. Police said their injuries are not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening.

Police believe the incident began after a woman was robbed of her suitcase in the car park lift by a group of four men, who sprayed a substance, believed to be pepper spray, in her direction. The incident is not believed to be related to terrorism or protest, police added.

A man, aged 31, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault and remains in custody. Officers were still tracing further suspects yesterday.

The incident prompted travel chaos as trains and buses to the airport were halted and routes into the airport's central area temporarily closed.

Travellers were advised to allow extra time, while holidaymakers later reported being stranded for hours at the airport's bus stops. The multi-storey car park where the incident unfolded is directly opposite the check-in area for Terminal 3.

Footage on social media appeared to show a man being handcuffed by an armed officer while another searched him.

Witness Tom Bate said he had been waiting to be picked up from the car park when he saw “young men dressed in black darting through the crowd”.

He said he felt a burning at the back of his throat after they left, with other people nearby beginning to cough.