Closed access to the Heathrow Express in Paddington station, London, UK, December 7, 2025. A man has been arrested by British police on suspicion of assaultImage: keystone
December 7, 2025, 8:05 p.mDec 7, 2025, 8:09 p.m
21 people were injured in a pepper spray attack at London’s Heathrow Airport. The incident also caused traffic chaos around the most important European aviation hub on Sunday.
According to witness statements and surveillance camera footage, four men stole a woman’s suitcase in the elevator of an airport parking garage and sprayed pepper spray, said police spokesman Peter Stevens. The spray injured 21 people, including a three-year-old. A 31-year-old was arrested on suspicion of assault.
Those directly involved appeared to have known each other, Stevens said. The exact background is still unclear, but it is apparently an “isolated incident”. Paramedics treated 21 injured people on site, five of whom had to be taken to hospital.
The incident and the associated deployment of police and rescue workers led to traffic chaos around Europe’s busiest airport. “We were stuck in traffic for an hour and a half,” complained Jayesh Patel, who actually wanted to take a flight to India with his family. “We ran to the departure gate, missed check-in by three minutes and were turned away,” he said. “Now we have to drive 160 kilometers back home.” (sda/afp)