An incident occurred in the parking garage of Terminal 3 at London's Heathrow Airport on Friday morning, in which several people were allegedly sprayed with a type of pepper spray. Armed officers from the Metropolitan Police were called to the multi-story car park at around 8:11 a.m. after receiving reports of assaults. According to police, a group of men used the substance before fleeing the scene. Investigators believe the individuals involved knew each other.
A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault. Police immediately launched an investigation to identify other suspects. Commander Peter Stevens of the Metropolitan Police stated that the incident appeared to stem from an escalated argument. He clarified that the incident was not being treated as a terrorist act and announced an increased police presence at the airport throughout the morning to ensure security and reassure the public. He thanked those present for their cooperation.
London's ambulance service treated several victims. They were taken to a hospital, but initial assessments indicated that their injuries were not life-threatening and no lasting damage was expected. The fire brigade was also on scene providing specialized support but left shortly after 10:30 a.m. Online videos showed a man being led away in handcuffs as ambulances, fire engines, and armed police responded to the scene.
Despite the incident, Terminal 3 remained operational. Heathrow Airport management stated that its teams were assisting emergency services and advised passengers to allow extra travel time to the airport. Although terminal operations continued, the large-scale response and investigation caused disruptions to traffic and public transport in the immediate vicinity of the car park.