Dozens of Heathrow Airport passengers experienced severe respiratory distress, including vomiting blood, during an attack involving tear gas, a court heard. The incident, which occurred on December 7 of last year, led to the closure of Terminal 3 for several hours and significant travel disruptions.
Four men—Tyrone Richards, 31, Anton Clarke-Butcher, 25, Omoneke Whyte, 31, and Denzel Eduardo, 29—pleaded guilty to affray at Isleworth Crown Court in June. A sentencing hearing on Friday detailed how three defendants, masked and wearing dark clothing, deployed a substance believed to be CS gas into a lift in an airport car park around 8 a.m. on December 7.
The lift contained two women who had arrived on a flight from Johannesburg, South Africa, and two men who were meeting them. The court was told the defendants were prevented from entering the lift by this group, while other individuals fled in distress. The gas was released as the lift reached the ground floor, affecting people in a nearby Caffè Nero and others in the vicinity.
A barista at the coffee shop reported coughing and vomiting blood, describing an instant onset of illness. Passengers leaving and traveling to the airport faced disruptions, including suspended shuttle buses and trains, as Terminal 3 was placed on lockdown.
One of the women who arrived from Johannesburg had her suitcase taken by the defendants at an airport taxi forecourt after the lift incident. She was also sprayed with CS gas at close range, causing her to cough and choke. A customer service agent at Terminal 3 described the event as "terrifying," experiencing dizziness and noting a woman in a wheelchair struggling to breathe.
A mother traveling with her 14-month-old son from South Africa stated her child began coughing, expressing immediate fear for their safety. Another man ordering a taxi reported that "20 to 30 people were all coughing" and he was "struggling to breathe."
Prosecutor Gary Rutter stated he could not definitively ascertain the exact cause of the incident but suggested it was likely a dispute. In total, 21 patients were treated by the London Ambulance Service at the scene, with five transported to a hospital. Their injuries were not considered life-changing or life-threatening.
The incident caused significant chaos, halting traffic and suspending public transport lines, including the Elizabeth Line. Bus drivers were advised to remain in their vehicles, and the entrance to the short-stay car park was blocked, leading to extensive vehicle backlogs.
Richards was arrested at the airport, while the other three defendants were apprehended later. Defense lawyers for the accused mentioned factors such as asthma, a traumatic childhood, and prior convictions during the sentencing hearing. Some lawyers argued their clients denied releasing the gas or expressed remorse for the suffering caused to bystanders. The sentencing hearing is ongoing.