As many as 21 people, including a three-year-old girl, were caught up in the chaos that ensued after a woman was attacked with pepper spray at a multi-storey parking lot of London’s Heathrow Airport. Police believe it was a suitcase robbery attempt. A 31-year-old man, who might have known the woman, has been arrested on suspicion of assault, which caused disruption at the airport
In a disturbing incident at London’s Heathrow Airport, 21 people, including a three-year-old girl, were caught up in chaos after a woman was
attacked with pepper spray during what police believe was a suitcase robbery attempt.
The incident on Sunday in the Terminal 3 car park, where dozens of people suffered the effects of the spray. Five of them had to be taken to the hospital for further treatment, authorities said.
According to Scotland Yard, the attack unfolded when a woman was confronted by four men in a lift, who “discharged pepper spray towards her” before trying to steal her luggage. The irritant spread through the area, affecting others nearby.
Police said a 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault, while the search continues for additional suspects involved in the attempted robbery.
Here’s what happened.
Attack in Heathrow’s parking lot
Officers were called just after 8:10 am to the multi-storey car park at Terminal 3 after reports that several people had been assaulted and sprayed with an irritant. Police say a group of men used what is thought to be a form of pepper spray in a lift and the surrounding areas, then fled.
Videos shared on social media showed armed officers sprinting through the car park while newly arrived travellers were instructed to remain inside their vehicles as a precaution.
Armed Police at London Heathrow airport following an incident involving people getting pepper sprayed.
The people involved knew each other, one was arrested others are being tracked after fleeing the scene. pic.twitter.com/axTFTXSrKP
— Bricktop_NAFO (@Bricktop_NAFO) December 7, 2025
Commander Peter Stevens of the Metropolitan Police told The Telegraph that according to early findings, “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.”
The attack, which took place inside a lift, affected not only those in the elevator but also people nearby due to the spread of the irritant.
“Our officers are working to determine the full circumstances around what happened, but we do believe this to be an isolated incident and is not linked to terrorism or protest activity,” Stevens said.
The ripple effect of the incident was felt across transport services. Heathrow Express and parts of the Elizabeth Line were temporarily suspended but later resumed with delays, according to National Rail.
UK: Cops probe pepper spray ‘assault’ at Heathrow Airport
Read @ANI story |https://t.co/t6ejXpAbUB#HeathrowAirport #UK #pepperspray pic.twitter.com/vMW10QBXGN
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) December 7, 2025
The London Fire Brigade, which received a call at 8.14 am, said its teams were still assisting other emergency services at the scene.
In the meantime, Heathrow officials are advising passengers to allow extra time and to check directly with their airlines if they have concerns about their journeys.
‘Felt like a James Bond movie’
Travellers caught in the middle of the chaos have described the incident as anything but ordinary.
One witness, Tom Bate, told Sky News that he noticed three “young men, dressed in black with their heads covered” suddenly sprinting away from the lift area. Moments later, people around him began coughing.
“Suddenly… everyone in the room was coughing, including me, and there was a burning in my throat,” he said. “It was one of the weirdest things I’ve ever experienced.”
Bate had just arrived from Dallas, Texas, and was in the multi-storey car park at Terminal 3 when the situation escalated.
As he tried to exit the parking lot, he saw “10-20 armed police officers” rush in.
“The [police] did, in fact, point their gun at someone and order him to the ground and detain him,” Bate recalled. “And they got me out of the vehicle to ID the person.”
He described the moment as “pretty intense” and “absolutely terrifying”.
Another passenger, Fin Fraser, who had flown in from the US on Sunday morning, told the BBC that he saw “armed police running around and checking people’s vehicles” as he attempted to leave the car park.
“When they came to ours, they knocked on our window and told us to wind it down and then they looked inside the car,” he said.
Footage circulating on social media showed multiple armed officers, fire engines, and one officer searching a handcuffed individual.
Calling it a “surreal experience,” Fraser added, “It felt like I was in a James Bond movie.”
Who is under arrest?
Police arrested a 31-year-old man at the scene on suspicion of assault. He remains in custody while officers continue to review CCTV footage and take witness statements. Scotland Yard said searches were underway to trace further suspects who left the area.
Major incident declared at Heathrow Airport as a number of people were sprayed with what is believed to be a form of pepper spray.
21 victims were treated at the scene with five taken to hospital https://t.co/xlQJJV3mM0 pic.twitter.com/AMueJwHn2Y
— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) December 7, 2025
The force stressed the attack appeared to involve people who knew each other, and reiterated that it was not being treated as an act of terrorism.
With input from agencies
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