Four men sentenced for Heathrow terminal tear-gas attack that sickened passengers
Four perpetrators received prison terms after spraying tear gas in Heathrow Terminal 3, causing several passengers to require medical care.
Four men were found guilty of affray after they sprayed what was believed to be CS tear gas inside a lift at Heathrow Airport on 7 December, prompting the shutdown of Terminal 3 for several hours. The attack forced nearby café patrons and travelers to cough, choke and, in some cases, vomit blood, with five of the 21 assaulted people requiring medical attention, including a woman who was directly sprayed in the face. The defendants, Tyrone Richards, Anton Clarke-Butcher, Omoneke Whyte and Denzel Eduardo, each pleaded guilty and were sentenced by Judge Kwame Inyundo, receiving terms of 27, 23, 23 and 21 months respectively.
The court heard that the men had followed two women to a taxi forecourt, threatened them and stole their suitcases, which have not been recovered. Victims described severe respiratory distress, and a barista at a nearby Caffè Nero recounted coughing and vomiting blood after the gas was released.
Why it matters
The case highlights security gaps at major airports and the serious health risks of chemical attacks in public spaces.
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