Passengers at London’s Heathrow Airport faced chaos and confusion on Sunday, December 7, 2025, after a brazen robbery in Terminal 3’s multi-storey car park left 21 people injured, including a three-year-old child. The Metropolitan Police said the incident began shortly after 8 a.m. when a group of four men targeted two women exiting a lift, snatching their suitcases and spraying what authorities believe was pepper spray before fleeing the scene. The attack sent shockwaves through the busy airport, sparking a major emergency response and grinding normal operations to a halt for hours.
According to the BBC, police and emergency services were called to the car park at 08:11 GMT following reports of multiple injuries caused by a noxious substance. Five people, including the young child, were taken to hospital for treatment, while another 16 received care at the scene. Thankfully, police confirmed that none of the injuries were life-threatening or life-changing.
Witnesses described scenes of panic and distress as the pepper spray spread through the enclosed space. Tom Bate, who was waiting for a lift in the car park, told the BBC, “I saw young men dressed in black darting through the crowd before going through a side door. As soon as they left, people started coughing, and then I started to cough. I felt a burning at the back of my throat.” Bate added, “It felt like I was in the middle of an attack—it was pretty intense.”
Armed police arrived within minutes, and the swift response was evident to those nearby. “It was an amazing thing to see the police running to danger,” Bate recalled. “I’m so glad to hear now that it’s not terrorism because it felt like I was in the middle of an attack.”
Authorities quickly moved to secure the area, closing the Terminal 3 car park and partially shutting down the Central Terminal Area tunnel. The closure lasted until 11:30 a.m., causing significant disruption for travelers. The Heathrow Express and parts of the Elizabeth Line were suspended, while National Rail also halted service to the airport for more than an hour. According to The Independent, at least 17 trains serving Terminals 2 and 3 were canceled or ran through without stopping, leaving passengers stranded and queues stretching across the terminal.
Heathrow Airport advised travelers to allow extra time for their journeys and to check with airlines for updates. Some passengers, unable to access shuttle buses, were seen walking down roads with their luggage—despite signs warning “no pedestrians beyond this point,” as reported by the BBC. One family told the PA news agency they waited at a bus stop for three hours for a shuttle to the long-stay car park, a journey that would normally take just 15 minutes. Airport staff handed out bottled water to those waiting in the cold, trying to ease the discomfort of the delays.
Commander Peter Stevens of the Metropolitan Police offered further details, stating, “At this stage, it’s understood that a woman was robbed of her suitcase by a group of four men, who sprayed a substance believed to be pepper spray in her direction.” Stevens added that the incident occurred in an elevator, and those directly involved are believed to be known to each other. “We are not treating this incident as terrorism,” he said. “I understand the public’s concerns and would like to thank those in the area for their cooperation this morning.”
The rapid police response resulted in the arrest of a 31-year-old man near the scene on suspicion of assault and robbery. He was later released under investigation as inquiries continued. By the following day, two more suspects—a 24-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman—were arrested in Lambeth on suspicion of robbery, assault, and conspiracy to commit robbery. Both remained in custody, as reported by BBC News. Authorities continued their search for additional suspects, with police stating that the group of men involved appeared to be young, dressed in black, and had their heads covered, according to eyewitness accounts cited by the Associated Press.
Despite the initial panic, officials were quick to reassure the public. The Metropolitan Police consistently emphasized that the incident was isolated and not related to terrorism or protest activity. “At this stage, we believe the incident involved a group of people known to each other, with an argument escalating and resulting in a number of people being injured,” Commander Stevens explained. Police and Crime Minister Sarah Jones expressed her gratitude to the emergency services, saying her thoughts were “with all those affected” and offering her “heartfelt thanks” for their rapid response.
The aftermath of the attack highlighted the vulnerability of major transport hubs like Heathrow, which, as Europe’s busiest airport, saw over 80 million passengers last year. The disruption added to a string of recent operational challenges at the airport, including a power outage in March caused by a fire at a London substation and significant flight delays in July following a radar malfunction, according to The New York Times.
For many travelers, the experience was both unsettling and surreal. Fin Fraser, who had just flown in from the United States, described seeing “armed police running around and checking people’s vehicles” as he attempted 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. It felt like I was in a James Bond movie,” he told the BBC.
Operations at Terminal 3 gradually returned to normal by Monday morning, though the incident left a lasting impression on passengers and staff alike. The airport’s quick recovery was aided by the coordinated efforts of police, ambulance crews, and airport personnel, who worked together to manage the disruption and care for those affected.
As police continue their investigation and search for additional suspects, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of travel and the importance of rapid emergency response. For those caught in the chaos, the day will be remembered not just for the disruption, but for the resilience of both the authorities and the public in the face of sudden adversity.
