A THREE-year-old girl is among 21 injured after a pepper spray attack at Heathrow Airport, when a woman was robbed of her suitcase, according to police.
Armed cops stormed aTerminal 3multi storey car park after a “group of men” allegedly doused multiple victims with the substance at around 8.11am.
Dramatic footage from the scene shows a hooded man, dressed in black, being bundled into the back of a police van while cuffed.
The Met Police said officers responded after 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”.
“This occurred within a car park lift, with those in the lift and surrounding area affected by the spray,” Commander Peter Stevens said.
At the time the car park area was busy with passengers arriving and meeting people from flights.
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Police said armed officers arrested a 31-year-old man on suspicion of assault within nine minutes of the report coming in.
He remains in custody, but the Met says enquiries “remain ongoing to locate further suspects”.
The London Ambulance Service treated 21 people with injuries, including a three-year-old girl who was treated at the scene.
Five people were taken to hospital. Their injuries are not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening.
Witness Tom Bate told Sky News he saw three “young men, dressed in black with their heads covered” run from an elevator area.
He said: “Suddenly… everyone in the room was coughing, including me, and there was a burning in my throat.
“It was one of the weirdest things I’ve ever experienced.”
An urgent search has been launched as the force also hunt further suspects who fled the scene.
It is understood the alarm was raised after several people were sprayed with a form of pepper spray.
The London Ambulance Service said a “significant incident” was declared around 8.40am.
Met Commander Peter Stevens said it is believed the chaos was sparked by “an argument escalating” between a group “known to each other”.
He added that there will be “an increased police presence” at the airport, but the incident is not being treated as terrorism.
Heathrow Airport confirmed in an update just after 11.30am the incident had been “contained”.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson added: “We were called at 8.14am today to assist emergency service colleagues at an incident near Terminal 3 at Heathrow Airport.
“Firefighters remain at the scene.”
Heathrow tunnels were shut down with LUL and Elizabeth Lines suspended amid the chaos.
The lines affected included Elizabeth between Shenfield and Abbey Wood, as well as Heathrow Terminal 4 to 5.
Meanwhile Heathrow Express services between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5 have also been disrupted.
Disruption continued for hours after the attack, with fuming passengers reporting three hour waits for car park shuttle services.
Motorists waiting to enter the airport were also stuck in nightmare traffic queues.
The airport urged flyers to allow extra time when travelling and to check in with their airlines.
Confused passengers have vented their frustrations online.
One penned on X: “What’s happened at Heathrow? Why’s all the trains departing and arriving at Heathrow cancelled?”
Another user on X said there was a “major backlog of cars unable to leave the vicinity or enter the drop-off zone” at Terminal 3.
It is understood the M4 southbound Heathrow Airport spur road was also closed this morning due to a police incident.
A Met Police spokesperson said: “Police are in attendance at Heathrow Airport while we investigate the circumstances around the assault of a number of people this morning.
“Officers were called at 08:11hrs to a multi-storey car park at Terminal 3 following reports of multiple people being assaulted.
“A number of people were sprayed with what is believed to be a form of pepper spray by a group of men who then left the scene.
“Armed response officers attended and arrested one man on suspicion of assault.
“He remains in custody and enquiries continue to trace further suspects.
“London Ambulance Service attended and the victims were taken to hospital.
“Their injuries are not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening.
“There is currently some disruption to traffic in the area and Terminal 3 remains open.”
Commander Peter Stevens added: “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.
“Our officers responded quickly and there will be an increased police presence at Heathrow Airport throughout the morning, to continue enquiries and ensure the safety of those in the area.
“We are not treating this incident as terrorism. I understand the public’s concerns and would like to thank those in the area for their cooperation this morning.”
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 101, quoting CAD 1803 7 DEC.
A London Ambulance spokesperson said: “We were called today at 8.04am to reports of an incident at Heathrow Airport.
“We sent a number of resources to the scene, and cared for 21 patients. Five patients were taken to hospital.
“The ambulance service was stood down from the scene at 10.58am.”
A Heathrow Airport spokesperson said in an update at 11.30am: “The incident at the multi storey car park in Terminal 3 has now been contained by the Metropolitan Police.
“Congestion remains on surrounding roads following the incident which we are working hard to resolve as quickly as possible and we are advising passengers to use public transport.
“There will be an increased police presence at Heathrow Airport to maintain the safety of people in the area and reassure the public.”
A spokesperson for National Rail added: “Lines have reopened allowing trains to be able to call at Heathrow Airport following the emergency services dealing with an incident at the Airport.
“Although lines have now reopened, disruption is expected to continue whilst services return to normal, delays of up to 10 minutes and cancellations can be expected until 11:45.”
Have you been affected by this incident? Email summer.raemason@the-sun.co.uk