Heathrow Airport Incident: Police Hunt Suspects After Woman Robbed and Crowd Exposed to Irritant Spray

Police are continuing to search for several suspects after a woman was robbed at Heathrow Airport and dozens of people were exposed to an irritant spray during a major incident that caused hours of disruption across the airport.

The disturbance unfolded on Sunday morning, 7 December 2025, near the multi-storey car park serving Terminals 2 and 3. Armed police, ambulance crews and firefighters rushed to the scene after reports that several people had become unwell following the release of what investigators believe was a type of pepper spray.

The incident left passengers coughing and struggling to breathe, caused panic among travellers and led to severe delays on roads, trains and airport transport links.

By Sunday evening, one man had been arrested, but officers said they were still trying to identify and locate at least three other suspects.

The Metropolitan Police stressed that the incident is not being treated as terrorism.

Robbery Inside Lift Before Spray Released

According to police, the incident began shortly after 8.30am on Sunday inside a lift in the multi-storey car park at Terminal 3.

Investigators believe four men approached a woman who had just arrived at the airport.

The men allegedly confronted her inside the lift, stole her suitcase and then released an irritant substance before fleeing.

Police said the substance is believed to have been some form of pepper spray or another chemical irritant.

The spray spread beyond the lift itself and affected people standing nearby in the car park and terminal area.

Passengers and airport staff reported a strong smell followed by burning sensations in their eyes and throats.

Several people began coughing and struggling to breathe.

The Metropolitan Police said officers from Heathrow’s armed response unit arrived within minutes.

Commander Peter Stevens said:

“Our officers responded extremely quickly after reports of a robbery and the use of an irritant spray. A man was detained at the scene, and our investigation into the remaining suspects is ongoing.”

A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of robbery and assault.

He remains in custody while detectives continue their enquiries.

Police are now examining CCTV footage from the car park, airport entrances and nearby roads.

Investigators are also appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or filmed the area on their phones to come forward.

Twenty-One People Treated

The London Ambulance Service confirmed that 21 people required medical attention after being exposed to the spray.

Most were treated at the scene, where paramedics established a temporary casualty area near Terminal 3.

Among those affected was a three-year-old girl, who was assessed by medics after complaining of breathing difficulties.

Five people were later taken to hospital as a precaution.

Officials said none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service said:

“We treated a total of 21 patients after reports of exposure to an unknown irritant. Five people were transported to hospital, while the remaining patients were assessed and discharged at the scene.”

The three-year-old girl was later allowed to return home with her family.

Doctors said several of the people taken to hospital had experienced temporary breathing problems, eye irritation and nausea.

Medical experts noted that pepper spray and similar irritants can have a more severe effect on children, elderly people and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma.

‘I Thought It Was a Terror Attack’

Passengers at Heathrow described scenes of confusion and panic as the incident unfolded.

Tom Bate, who had just arrived on a flight from Dallas, said he was walking through the car park near Terminal 3 when he saw three masked men running away from the lift area.

Seconds later, he said, people around him began coughing and shouting.

“There was this intense burning in my throat and eyes,” he said.

“At first nobody knew what was happening. Then we saw armed police running through the car park.”

Bate said his first thought was that there had been some kind of terror attack.

“When you are in an airport and suddenly you see armed officers sprinting towards people who are coughing and panicking, your mind immediately goes somewhere very dark,” he said.

He said passengers around him began running in different directions.

Some people tried to leave the car park on foot, while others attempted to get back into the terminal building.

Parents were seen carrying children away from the area.

Police later confirmed that there was no indication of terrorism.

Commander Stevens said:

“We understand why people were alarmed, but there is no evidence at this stage to suggest the incident was linked to terrorism. Our enquiries indicate this was a criminal robbery in which an irritant spray was used.”

Despite the fear, Bate praised the actions of the armed officers.

“They ran straight towards the danger,” he said.

“It was frightening to watch, but their bravery was obvious.”

Chaos Across Heathrow

Although the incident lasted only a short time, the disruption it caused continued for several hours.

Large sections of the area around Terminals 2 and 3 were temporarily closed while emergency services responded.

Passengers trying to reach flights or leave the airport faced long queues and confusion.

Heathrow’s shuttle buses, which normally run every 15 minutes between terminals and car parks, were badly affected.

Some travellers said they waited more than three hours.

Roads around the airport quickly became gridlocked.

Long lines of vehicles built up around the multi-storey car parks, taxi ranks and approach roads.

Some frustrated passengers attempted to walk through the Heathrow tunnel because traffic had come to a standstill.

The disruption spread beyond the airport itself.

the Elizabeth line trains were affected throughout the morning.

Because platforms at Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 became overcrowded, some services passed through the station without stopping.

Passengers arriving by rail were advised to use alternative routes or wait until the station reopened fully.

National Highways twice closed the M4 spur road leading into Heathrow in an attempt to reduce congestion.

The closures caused traffic delays on surrounding roads in west London.

By early afternoon, the backlog of traffic extended for several miles.

Airline crew members also struggled to reach the terminals.

Several airlines warned that some departing flights could face delays because staff were unable to arrive on time.

However, Heathrow later said that no flights had been cancelled directly because of the incident.

Travellers Describe Lack of Information

As the disruption continued, many passengers complained that there was little information available.

Travellers said staff at the airport appeared overwhelmed and that updates were often unclear or contradictory.

One passenger waiting near Terminal 3 said more than 300 people had gathered around the lifts and escalators leading to the car park.

“There was almost no guidance,” she said.

“People did not know whether the terminal was closed, whether there had been an attack or how they were supposed to get to the train station.”

Others said they relied on social media and news reports because airport announcements provided little detail.

Some families missed flights after being trapped in traffic or unable to move between terminals.

Several passengers described the atmosphere as chaotic.

“It felt like nobody knew what was happening,” said one traveller who had been trying to reach Terminal 2.

“You had children crying, people shouting, long queues and no real explanation.”

Heathrow Airport later apologised for the disruption.

In a statement, the airport said:

“We apologise to passengers affected by this morning’s incident. The safety of passengers and staff remains our priority. We advise all travellers to allow extra time for journeys and check directly with airlines before travelling.”

Why Pepper Spray Causes Major Incidents

Although pepper spray is often considered less dangerous than other weapons, experts say its use in crowded places can quickly create panic.

Pepper spray, sometimes known as PAVA spray or CS spray, is designed to irritate the eyes, nose, throat and skin.

In enclosed spaces such as lifts, car parks or transport hubs, even a small amount can affect many people.

Security consultant David O’Connor said airports are especially vulnerable because crowds are dense and passengers may immediately fear a more serious threat.

“When people in an airport suddenly begin coughing and there is a strong smell, many assume the worst,” he said.

“That can trigger panic even if the actual chemical involved is relatively minor.”

Under UK law, pepper spray is classified as a prohibited weapon.

Possessing it without lawful authority is an offence under the the Firearms Act 1968.

If police confirm that pepper spray was used during the robbery, the suspects could face additional charges relating to possession of a prohibited weapon.

Legal experts said those convicted could face several years in prison.

Government and Police Response

The incident has prompted concern at government level because of the disruption caused at one of Europe’s busiest airports.

Police and Crime Minister Sarah Jones said she was receiving regular updates from the Metropolitan Police and Heathrow Airport.

In a statement, she urged members of the public to follow instructions from officers and avoid travelling to affected areas unless necessary.

“Our thoughts are with those who were injured or distressed by this incident,” she said.

“I want to thank the emergency services for their rapid response.”

The Metropolitan Police said specialist officers remained at Heathrow throughout Sunday to reassure the public and continue the investigation.

Detectives are working with Heathrow security staff to establish exactly how the suspects entered and left the airport.

Police believe the men may have left the area in a vehicle shortly after the robbery.

Officers are reviewing automatic number plate recognition data and CCTV from surrounding roads.

Commander Stevens said additional patrols would remain in place around Terminals 2 and 3 over the coming days.

Emergency Services Stand Down

By late Sunday morning, the immediate danger had passed.

The London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service both confirmed that they had been stood down after helping to support the multi-agency response.

Firefighters had initially been called because of concerns that an unknown chemical substance may have been released.

Specialist crews later concluded that there was no ongoing risk to the public.

The airport gradually returned to normal during the afternoon, although delays continued into the evening.

Police said the wider investigation remains active.

Hunt Continues for Remaining Suspects

The Metropolitan Police are continuing to search for the three remaining suspects believed to have been involved.

Officers described them as men in dark clothing who were seen leaving the area shortly after the robbery.

Police have not yet released full descriptions, but detectives are expected to issue further appeals once more CCTV images have been analysed.

The woman whose suitcase was stolen has not been publicly identified.

Police said she is receiving support.

It remains unclear whether the suspects targeted her specifically or whether the robbery was opportunistic.

Investigators are also trying to establish whether the suitcase has been recovered.

For many passengers, the memory of Sunday morning’s events will linger.

Although police insist the incident was not terrorism, the sight of armed officers rushing through Heathrow and passengers struggling to breathe created a frightening atmosphere.

For a few hours, one of Britain’s busiest transport hubs was thrown into confusion.

And with several suspects still at large, the story is not yet over.