The latest update from the Metropolitan Police sheds light on the morning altercation at Heathrow Airport. Authorities were alerted at 8.11am on Sunday to an assault incident involving a group of individuals at Terminal 3’s multi-storey car park. Responding armed officers apprehended a 31-year-old man who is currently under police custody.
According to the Met, the London Ambulance Service attended to 21 individuals, with injuries reported, including a three-year-old girl who received on-site treatment. Five individuals were subsequently transported to a medical facility, with injuries deemed non-life-threatening. The police investigation indicates that a woman had her belongings stolen by a group of four men. Allegedly, the men deployed a substance, suspected to be pepper spray, during the incident which occurred in a car park elevator affecting those inside and in the vicinity.
Met Police Commander Peter Stevens stated that the incident was likely an “isolated” event involving individuals acquainted with each other. He mentioned ongoing efforts by the police team to analyze CCTV footage and interview witnesses. By midday, numerous passengers were observed waiting at the bus stop outside the terminal for shuttles to the long-stay car park and other destinations.
A family, opting for anonymity, revealed a three-hour wait at the bus stop post their 8am flight landing. Heathrow staff distributed bottled water to the waiting passengers. A Heathrow representative explained that shuttle services to the long-stay car park experienced delays due to road congestion following an earlier safety-related closure of the Central Terminal Area tunnel. The shuttle services have since resumed normal operations, with apologies extended for any inconvenience caused. Concurrently, rail passengers at Heathrow Terminal 2/3 station encountered lengthy queues due to overcrowding.
Individuals possessing information related to the incident are urged to contact 101, quoting CAD 1803 7 DEC. Subscribe for email updates featuring the day’s most significant news stories.