Four jailed over Heathrow Airport tear gas attack

Four men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a violent incident involving tear gas at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 3 car park. The attack, which occurred on December 7, led to significant disruption and left individuals experiencing distress, vomiting, and breathing difficulties. The men pleaded guilty to affray at Isleworth Crown Court.

The Incident

The incident began around 8am on December 7 when three of the defendants, described as wearing face coverings and dark clothing, sprayed a substance believed to be CS spray into a lift. The lift contained two women who had arrived from Johannesburg and two men meeting them. The court heard that while the exact deployment of the gas is unclear, each man accepted involvement in the joint criminal enterprise. Innocent parties fled the lift in distress. The gas spread, affecting people in a nearby Caffè Nero, with one barista reporting vomiting blood and feeling unwell almost instantly. The women later had their suitcases taken by the group at a taxi forecourt.

Judge Kwame Inyundo stated during sentencing that "individuals were targeted by you as a group and the violence used in the incident was serious and sustained." The court heard that the group had a "particular and determined interest" in the women's suitcases, which were not recovered. CS gas, commonly used by police, was sprayed directly into the face of one woman at close range, causing her to cough and choke.

Disruption and Sentencing

The attack caused the closure of Terminal 3 for several hours, leading to delays for shuttle buses and trains. A customer service agent described the event as "terrifying," reporting feeling dizzy and observing a woman in a wheelchair struggling to breathe. Passengers arriving on overnight flights expressed fear for their children's safety. Tyrone Richards, 31, was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment. Omoneke Whyte, 31, and Denzel Eduardo, 29, each received 23-month sentences. Anton Clarke-Butcher, 25, was sentenced to 21 months.

The four men, Tyrone Richards, Anton Clarke-Butcher, Omoneke Whyte, and Denzel Eduardo, previously admitted to affray charges at Isleworth Crown Court. Their sentences ranged from 21 months to 27 months imprisonment.