Pepper Spray Attack at Heathrow Airport Injures 21, Including Toddler; Suspect Arrested
LONDON, England — A morning robbery at Heathrow Airport’s parking garage on December 7 left 21 people injured after a group of men used pepper spray during the theft of a woman’s suitcase, authorities reported. Among those affected was a 3-year-old child who required medical treatment. The Metropolitan Police arrested a 31-year-old man in connection with the incident and are actively searching for three other suspects who fled the scene.
The attack unfolded inside an elevator when four men confronted a woman and forcibly took her suitcase. During the robbery, the suspects deployed a substance believed to be pepper spray, affecting passengers inside the elevator and nearby areas. Commander Peter Stevens of the Metropolitan Police confirmed, “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.”
Eyewitnesses described the suspects as three young men dressed in black with their heads covered. Video footage showed armed police officers swiftly responding to the multi-story parking garage, navigating through the area with large firearms. Emergency medical teams treated victims on-site and transported five individuals to local hospitals. Fortunately, none of the injuries are considered life-threatening.
Authorities clarified that the victim and suspects were known to each other, and investigators are not treating the case as terrorism-related. Commander Stevens emphasized, “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.” He further reassured the public, stating, “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.”
The incident caused significant travel delays at Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports, impacting both arriving and departing passengers for several hours. However, airport officials confirmed that operations have since returned to normal, as noted in a statement posted on the airport’s official social media channels.
Heathrow Airport, managed by the Heathrow Airport Limited, is a critical hub for international travel, handling over 80 million passengers annually. The Metropolitan Police, responsible for law enforcement in Greater London, continue to investigate the incident and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Public safety at transportation hubs remains a priority for UK authorities. The Department for Transport collaborates with law enforcement agencies to enhance security measures and ensure traveler safety. Similar incidents involving the use of irritants like pepper spray have prompted reviews of security protocols across major airports worldwide.
For further updates on the investigation and travel advisories, travelers are encouraged to consult official sources such as the Metropolitan Police Service and Heathrow Airport’s communications.
This event highlights ongoing challenges faced by airport security teams in balancing open access with the prevention of violent crimes. The swift response by law enforcement and emergency services helped mitigate the severity of the incident, underscoring the importance of coordinated action in public safety emergencies.
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