Heathrow incident live: Passengers stranded at airport bus stops after 20 injured in ‘pepper spray’ attack

Here’s everything we know after police descended on Heathrow Airport this morning:

• Police were called to the Terminal 3 car park at 8:11am on Sunday morning following reports of a “group of men” attacking people with a “form of pepper spray”

• One man was arrested at the scene as officers launched a manhunt for other suspects

• Paramedics cared for 21 people at the scene, and transported five of those to hospital

• Those affected are not believed to have life-threatening or life-changing injuries

• Passengers at Heathrow Airport have faced severe disruption to transport links throughout Sunday, although all roads and rail lines are now open

• Police believe the incident was sparked by an argument between people who are known to each other

• The incident is not being treated as terror-related

In an update, the police said they believe a woman was robbed of her suitcase by four men.

A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault within nine minutes of the report coming in. He remains in custody and enquiries remain ongoing to locate further suspects.

The London Ambulance Service treated 21 people with injuries, including a three-year-old girl who was treated at the scene. Five people were taken to hospital with non-life-changing or life-threatening injuries.

Commander Peter Stevens from the Met said: “Our team have been working at pace today to review CCTV from the area and speak with witnesses at the scene.

“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.

“This occurred within a car park lift, with those in the lift and surrounding area affected by the spray.

“Our officers are working to determine the full circumstances around what happened but we do believe this to be an isolated incident with those directly involved known to each other.

“We appreciate that this has been a concerning incident and I commend the actions of the emergency services and members of staff at Heathrow airport.”

People stuck at Heathrow Airport have described waiting for two hours to get a taxi after this morning’s incident.

Speaking to Sky News, Aleksandra said it took her more than two hours to get a cab back to Windsor.

She added: “The car park was quite chaotic at Terminal 2, with many people waiting for taxis.

“My taxi driver wasn’t aware what was going on and was stuck in traffic for more than an hour on the slip road to Terminal 2.”

Passengers also reported long delays and overcrowding on public transport links to Heathrow.

Five people were rushed to hospital after this morning’s attack, which police said involved a “form of pepper spray”.

Paramedics initially cared for 21 at the scene, with five needing hospital treatment, London Ambulance Service said.

They are not believed to have life-threatening or life-changing injuries.

One man has been arrested on suspicion of assault following an incident at Heathrow Airport this morning.

Emergency services were called to the Terminal 3 car park to reports a group of men had attacked a number of people with a pepper-spray like substance.

You can read the full story below…

Multiple suspects involved in this morning’s attack are still on the run, with a manhunt underway.

Police arrested one man at the scene, but said they are looking to trace several others.

It comes after 21 people were treated by paramedics after reportedly being attacked using pepper spray in the airport’s Terminal 3 car park on Sunday morning.

Heathrow staff have begun handing out bottled water to passengers waiting for buses from Terminal 3.

One family, who did not wish to be named, told the PA news agency they had been waiting at the bus stop for three hours for a shuttle to the long-stay car park after their flight.

The shuttle usually runs every 15 minutes but waiting passengers said there had not been a bus for hours.

The M4 spur road on the approach to Heathrow Airport has reopened, National Highways has said.

Policing minister Sarah Jones added: “My thoughts are with all those affected by the incident at Heathrow this morning. My heartfelt thanks go to the emergency services for their rapid response – and the arrest made.

“I am being regularly updated on the investigation. Those in the area should follow police advice.”