Two men charged after Heathrow Airport 'pepper spray attack'

The charges relate to an incident at the west London airport on Sunday, during which a substance believed to be pepper spray was deployed.

Among those hurt in the attack was a young girl of just three years old.

The pair's charges stem from an investigation into events at the airport's Terminal 3, where suitcases were reportedly stolen from victims.

The assault took place in the multi-storey car park serving Terminal 3, where two women were targeted after stepping out of a lift.

Police said the victims had their suitcases taken from them during the robbery, which occurred on Sunday.

The incident prompted a significant armed police response at one of Britain's busiest airports.

What is believed to have been pepper spray was used during the attack, causing injuries to multiple people at the scene.

The substance led to five individuals being taken to hospital for treatment, though all were subsequently discharged.

The robbery and subsequent use of the noxious substance sparked a major investigation by officers, culminating in the charges announced today against Richards and Clarke-Butcher.

Five people were taken to hospital following the incident, with a three-year-old girl among those who sustained injuries during the attack.

All five individuals who received medical treatment have since been released from hospital, according to reports.

The young child's presence among the casualties highlighted the indiscriminate nature of the assault, which took place in a public area of the busy airport terminal.

The victims were caught up in the robbery, during which the noxious substance was sprayed, affecting bystanders as well as those directly targeted.

Hospital staff treated those affected before discharging them, with no reports of any lasting injuries from the pepper spray exposure.