Toddler among 21 victims in pepper spray, robbery attack at London airport

Police arrested a 31-year-old antheral Sunday astatine a London airdrome pursuing a robbery successful which 21 radical — including a 3-year-old kid — were pepper-sprayed and required aesculapian treatment, officials said.

The greeting incidental happened astatine Heathrow Airport’s parking store erstwhile a radical of 4 men stole a woman’s suitcase successful an elevator and sprayed an irritant astatine her, the Metropolitan Police said. 

"A pistillate was robbed of her suitcase by a radical of 4 men, who sprayed a substance believed to beryllium capsicum spray successful her direction," Commander Peter Stevens said successful a statement, adding that passengers successful the elevator and surrounding country were besides affected.

Police said the suspects past fled the elevator pursuing the incident. They appeared to beryllium 3 young men dressed successful each achromatic with their heads covered, The Associated Press (AP) reported, citing a witness.

'TRAGEDY AVERTED' AT ATLANTA AIRPORT AS POLICE ARREST MAN WITH AR-15 ALLEGEDLY THREATENING TO 'SHOOT IT UP'

Armed constabulary officers unreserved done a Heathrow Airport parking store aft reports of a pepper-spray assault. (Tom Bate/Reuters)

Video captured a swarm of officers rushing to the country of the assault, visibly carrying ample firearms arsenic they navigated the multi-story parking garage.

Authorities said the unfortunate and the suspects knew each other, and investigators are not treating the lawsuit arsenic a terrorism-related incident.

"At this stage, we judge the incidental progressive a radical of radical known to each other, with an statement escalating and resulting successful a fig of radical being injured," Stevens said.

CONVICTED FELON FEDERALLY CHARGED AFTER THREATENING ATLANTA AIRPORT WHILE ARMED WITH AR-15 RIFLE 

An exigency conveyance extracurricular Heathrow Terminal 3. (Andrew Matthews/PA Images)

"We are not treating this incidental arsenic terrorism," helium added. "I recognize the public’s concerns and would similar to convey those successful the country for their practice this morning."

Officials said the 31-year-old is being held connected suspicion of assault, and that authorities are searching for the different suspects who escaped.

Police officers look down from an precocious level of a Heathrow Airport parking store portion searching for suspects successful a pepper-spray assault. (Tom Bate/Reuters)

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Ambulance crews treated victims astatine the country and transported 5 to the hospital. Their injuries are not believed to beryllium life-threatening, according to the authorities.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.