Armed police descended on Heathrow Airport on Sunday morning following a reported pepper spray assault in a multi-storey car park, leading to one arrest and a major emergency service response.
Details of the Terminal 3 Incident
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they were called at 8.11am on Sunday 7 December 2025 to the car park at Terminal 3. The force stated that a group of men allegedly sprayed a number of people with a substance believed to be pepper spray before fleeing the scene.
Commander Peter Stevens addressed the incident, indicating that early investigations suggest it involved a group of people known to each other, where an argument escalated. He was keen to stress that officers are not treating the event as terrorism.
One man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault and remains in police custody. The Met has confirmed that enquiries are ongoing to trace further suspects.
Emergency Response and Travel Disruption
The London Ambulance Service declared a "significant incident" and provided a full deployment of resources. Several victims were taken to hospital for treatment. Authorities have confirmed that their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
The incident caused considerable travel disruption in the area during the morning. The spur road on the M4 southbound towards the airport was temporarily closed, leading to major traffic delays. National Rail reported that while lines serving Heathrow had reopened, delays of up to 10 minutes and some cancellations persisted until around 11.45am.
Both the Elizabeth Line and Piccadilly Line services experienced delays. Despite the chaos, Terminal 3 itself remained open throughout, with Heathrow advising passengers to allow extra time for their journeys.
Ongoing Investigation and Increased Security
Commander Stevens thanked the public for their cooperation and assured travellers that there would be an increased police presence at Heathrow throughout the morning to continue enquiries and ensure safety.
Social media footage and reports depicted a heavy armed police presence in the car park area, with some users noting vehicles were being searched. The London Fire Brigade also attended to assist emergency service colleagues and remained on scene.
The investigation continues as police work to understand the full circumstances of the assault and locate the outstanding suspects.
