3-Year-Old Girl Among 21 Injured in Shocking Pepper Spray Attack at Popular Airport

A terrifying scene erupted Sunday morning at London’s Heathrow Airport when a “group of four men” allegedly unleashed a cloud of pepper spray in a parking lot elevator—injuring 21 people, including a 3-year-old girl.

The attack happened around 8:11 a.m. local time in Terminal 3’s parking structure, where, according to police, the men attempted to steal a suitcase from a woman before releasing what authorities called “a form of pepper spray.”

Passengers described chaos as the air inside the elevator filled with burning fumes. “Everyone was coughing and looking at each other thinking how weird it was that we were all coughing at the same time,” one traveler told The Guardian.

Families were seen stumbling out of the terminal, gasping for air. Airport staff and paramedics rushed to the scene as alarms echoed through the parking area.

Officers from London’s Metropolitan Police arrived within minutes. A 31-year-old suspect was arrested nearby, but authorities say three other men remain on the run.

“Our team have been working at pace today to review CCTV from the area and speak with witnesses at the scene,” Commander Peter Stevens said. “At this stage, we believe this was an isolated incident involving people who were known to each other.”

Five of the victims were hospitalized, though police confirmed none of the injuries are life-threatening.

The attack comes as Heathrow—Europe’s busiest airport in 2024, according to OAG Global Airline Data—faces renewed scrutiny over passenger safety. With millions passing through its terminals each month, even minor disturbances can trigger mass disruption.

Security experts say pepper spray incidents in large transit hubs are rare but highly dangerous. “In enclosed spaces like elevators or car parks, the effects can spread quickly,” noted UK counterterrorism consultant Mark Ellis. “Even non-lethal agents can cause panic and injury on a large scale.”

Police are reviewing surveillance footage and appealing for witnesses who may have seen the suspects before or after the attack. The Met confirmed additional patrols have been deployed throughout the airport in response.

For now, travelers remain shaken by the unexpected assault in one of the world’s busiest airports. “You don’t expect to be coughing and crying before a flight,” said another witness. “It was like a nightmare in slow motion.”

Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Metropolitan Police’s Heathrow division as the hunt for the remaining suspects continues.