Man arrested after hazardous materials incident forces Heathrow terminal 4 evacuation
A man has been arrested following an incident at Heathrow Airport that led to the evacuation of Terminal 4 on Monday evening.
Emergency services were called before 5pm on Monday after reports of a "potential hazardous materials incident" at Europe’s busiest airport, resulting in the closure of Terminal Four for three hours.
Metropolitan Police specialist officers attended the scene along with the London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service.
A 57-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and causing a public nuisance on Tuesday after specialist officers discovered a canister believed to contain CS spray.
The spray is used by UK police forces as a temporary incapacitant spray to subdue individuals who may pose a risk to themselves or others, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
It may be dispersed in a smoke cloud or dissolved into a liquid (the solvent methyl iso-butyl ketone) to be used as a spray. It is also utilized by the military in training operations and for testing gas masks.
The force said they believe the substance in the canister is what caused irritation to passengers.
The suspect remains in police custody, the force stated, adding that the incident is not being treated as terrorism-related and an investigation is ongoing.
Dozens of flights were delayed, and thousands of travelers were affected by the incident at Terminal 4 of Europe’s busiest airport on Monday evening, with the airport advising passengers not to travel to Terminal 4 while National Rail announced trains were unable to call at the terminal due to the incident. Transport links to the airport were already impacted by London Underground strikes.
The LFB reported it was first called about the incident at 5.01pm and crews from Feltham, Heathrow, Wembley, and surrounding fire stations attended.
As specialist emergency teams in hazmat suits entered the terminal, the crowds outside grew, and staff distributed foil blankets to passengers as temperatures began to drop.
Witnesses said they were confused as "no one really knew what was going on." By 8pm, Heathrow announced it was standing down the incident and allowing passengers back into the terminal. But by then, flight schedules were in disarray.
The incident occurred months after Heathrow airport closed following an “unprecedented” electrical substation fire that halted 1,300 flights.
London Heathrow is the UK’s busiest airport, and just last month it recorded its busiest day ever. The airport saw more than a quarter of a million passengers pass through its four terminals – a total of 270,869 passengers – on 1 August.
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