Two males, aged 24 and 31, are charged over Heathrow ‘suitcase theft’ after lady was focused with pepper spray
Two men have been charged after a woman was targeted with pepper spray at Heathrow Airport in an alleged attempt to steal her suitcase.
Tyrone Richards, 31, and Anton Clarke-Butcher, 24, are accused of two counts of robbery and two counts of administering a noxious substance.
HM Courts and Tribunal Service staff said the pair are due to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court later today.
Scotland Yard launched an investigation after a group of men allegedly targeted two women as they exited Terminal 3’s multi-storey car park on Sunday.
The attack left 21 people injured, including a three-year-old girl. The toddler was among 16 victims treated at the scene, with five others being taken to hospital.
It is understood the gang sprayed the substance at the women as they exited the lift, affecting other passengers inside and in the surrounding area.
The Met initially characterised the alleged attack as an ‘isolated incident’ that involved two groups of people that were known to each other.
But CCTV footage from the scene and interviews with witnesses cast new light on the events.
Two men have been charged over an alleged suitcase robbery at Heathrow Airport. Pictured: Armed police at the scene
The incident caused widespread travel disruption at Heathrow on Sunday
The Met Police has so far made a number of arrests in connection with the incident, which is not being treated as terrorism.
A 31-year-old man was arrested close to the scene on Sunday and yesterday, officers detained a 24-year-old man.
A 23-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery. She was later released on bail pending further enquiries.
Meanwhile, a 57-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery. She was also released under investigation.
Later on Monday, a 31-year-old man was detained on suspicion of affray. He remains in custody.
The ordeal sparked major travel disruption as flights were delayed or cancelled, public transport was suspended and drivers were not allowed to leave their cars.
Underground and Elizabeth Lines connected to the airport were brought to a halt, bus drivers were trapped inside the station, and the short stay car park entrance was blocked, causing a major backlog of vehicles unable to leave the vicinity.
The delays were sparked as armed police urgently searched for suspects before arresting one man on suspicion of assault.
One woman said she wasted seven hours travelling and waiting around at the airport after her flight was cancelled.
‘Absolute chaos at Heathrow this morning – seven hours wasted and trip cancelled after I missed my flight,’ she wrote on X.
Heathrow staff handed out bottled water to frustrated passengers waiting for buses from Terminal 3 on Sunday afternoon.
One family, who did not wish to be named, said they had been stood at the bus stop for three hours for a shuttle to the long-stay car park after their flight.
