Heathrow Airport incident: Police hunting suspects after woman robbed and crowd exposed to irritant spray

Emergency services went to Heathrow Airport on Sunday. They arrived after a woman was robbed in a lift. Several people were exposed to what police believe was a type of pepper spray. One man has been arrested, while officers continue searching for additional suspects. The incident caused widespread disruption across Terminals 2 and 3. Long delays were reported on roads, rail services, and airport transport links.

The woman was robbed before the spray was released

The disturbance began when four men confronted a woman inside a lift at Terminal 3 multi-stores car park. This was according to the Metropolitan Police. They stole her suitcase and released an irritant substance. The spray affected people both inside and near the lift area.

Commander Peter Stevens said armed officers arrived within minutes and detained a 31-year-old man on suspicion of assault. He remains in custody as detectives work to identify and locate the remaining suspects.

21 treated, including toddler

London Ambulance Service confirmed that 21 people received medical care following the exposure. This included a three-year-old girl. She was assessed at the scene. Five people were taken to hospital, though none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

Witness recounts ‘terrifying’ scenes

Travellers described moments of panic as the irritant spread. Passenger Tom Bate, who had just arrived from Dallas, said he saw three masked men run from the lift moments before people began coughing.

“There was an intense burning in my throat,” he said, adding that the sight of armed officers sprinting through the car park led him to believe he was caught in a terror attack. Police later confirmed the incident is not being treated as terrorism.

Bate praised the swift response of armed officers: “They ran straight into danger. It was frightening but their bravery was obvious.”

Major delays across Heathrow

The incident triggered hours of disruption:

• Passengers reported three-hour waits for shuttle buses normally running every 15 minutes.
• Long queues developed around Terminals 2 and 3, with some travellers attempting to walk through the Heathrow tunnel due to gridlocked traffic.
• Elizabeth Line services were affected, with trains skipping Terminals 2 and 3 at times because platforms were overcrowded.
• National Highways twice closed the M4 spur road leading to the airport as congestion built up.

Some airline crew members struggled to reach the terminals, while arriving passengers described chaotic scenes in car parks and taxi ranks. One traveller said more than 300 people were waiting for lifts at Terminal 3, with little staff guidance available.

Authorities urge caution

Police and Crime Minister Sarah Jones said she is being updated regularly and advised the public to follow instructions from officers at the airport.

The Met said its teams remain on site to conduct enquiries and ensure passengers’ safety. Heathrow Airport has urged travellers to allow extra time for journeys and check with airlines for updates.

Fire and ambulance services stood down

The London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service both confirmed they were stood down late morning after supporting the multi-agency response, although police continue their investigation.