Two men charged over Heathrow ‘pepper-spray’ incident which sparked huge armed police response
Two men have been charged with robbery and administering a noxious substance after the incident at Heathrow airport on Sunday.
HM Courts and Tribunal Service staff said Tyrone Richards, 31, and Anton Clarke-Butcher, 24, were each charged with two counts of robbery and two counts of administering a noxious substance.
They will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
On Monday, the Metropolitan Police said it had arrested two more people in connection with the incident, including a 23-year-old woman, on suspicion of conspiracy to rob.
It was stated that a 31-year-old man, who was arrested near the scene, was released under investigation while investigations continue.
Police were called to the multi-storey car park opposite Terminal 3 at 8.11am on Sunday following reports that many people were injured by a harmful substance.
The London Ambulance Service treated 21 people and five people were taken to hospital but later discharged. A 3-year-old child was among the injured.
Before the attack, two women had their luggage stolen after they got off the parking lot elevator. The men who robbed them sprayed what police believe was pepper spray in the women’s direction, which then affected others nearby.
Witness Tom Bate said he saw “young men dressed in black moving quickly through the crowd” as he waited to be picked up from the car park.
He said that after they left, he felt a burning sensation in his throat and other people nearby started coughing.
Mr Bate told the BBC: “I was delighted to hear it wasn’t terrorism because it felt like I was in the middle of an attack; it was quite violent.”
More to follow…
