Man arrested at an airport after a scaring pepper-spraying incident
By BBC, December 7, 2025A man has been arrested on suspicion of assault after several people were sprayed with what is believed to be a form of pepper spray at Heathrow Airport, police have said.
Police and emergency services were called at 08:11 GMT on Sunday, December 7, 2025, to a multi-storey car park at Terminal 3 after reports of an alleged assault by a group of men.
The man is in custody while police search for other suspects. Five people were taken to the hospital, and 21 victims received treatment overall, the London Ambulance Service said.
The force said it was an isolated incident and was not being treated as terrorism or protest-related.
There has been disruption to rail services, and Heathrow is advising passengers to “allow extra time when travelling to the airport “.
Met Commander Peter Stevens said: “At this stage, we believe the incident involved a group of people known to each other, with an argument escalating and resulting in some people being injured.”
He added officers “responded quickly”, and there would be “an increased police presence at Heathrow Airport throughout the morning”.
Social media footage showed a large armed police response, fire engines and an officer appearing to search a handcuffed individual.
Fin Fraser, who flew into Heathrow from the US on Sunday morning, told the BBC he saw “armed police running around and checking people’s vehicles” as he was attempting to leave the car park.
“When they came to ours, they knocked on our window and told us to wind it down and then they looked inside the car.”
Describing it as a “surreal experience,” he added: “It felt like I was in a James Bond movie”.
The Heathrow Express and parts of the Elizabeth Line were suspended on Sunday morning while responders attended the scene. Trains have resumed but are running with delays, National Rail said.
Heathrow has advised passengers to “allow extra time when travelling to the airport and to check with their airline for any queries”. Due to congestion on surrounding roads following the incident, the airport has advised passengers to use public transport.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said they were called to assist emergency responders at Heathrow Airport at 08.14 GMT on Sunday. Firefighters remain at the scene, they added.