Daijiworld Media Network - London

London, Dec 7: Panic gripped parts of London’s Heathrow Airport on Sunday morning after a heated argument escalated into a pepper spray attack at the multi-storey car park of Terminal 3, leading to a brief lockdown and disruption of movement in and around the terminal.

According to London’s Metropolitan Police, the incident took place around 8 am (local time) when a man sprayed a group of people—believed to be known to each other—with what was suspected to be pepper spray. Security forces and armed response units rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

As many as 21 individuals received treatment at the scene, while five others were shifted to hospital for further care. Police confirmed that none of the injuries are life-threatening.

Following the attack, a man was arrested on suspicion of assault, while efforts are underway to trace other suspects who fled the location. Authorities have clarified that the incident has no links to terrorism.

The sudden scare caused significant traffic chaos as police temporarily restricted vehicle and pedestrian movement in parts of the airport premises. Train services in and out of Heathrow were halted for over an hour, affecting several passengers. Despite the disruptions, Terminal 3 continued functioning.

Airport authorities issued an advisory urging travellers to arrive early in view of heavy congestion around the terminal. The situation has since been brought back to normal, officials said.