Parts of the Pentagon were placed under lockdown on Thursday after a suspected hazardous materials incident prompted emergency protocols inside the US Department of Defense headquarters.
Hazardous materials teams were sent to the building after internal systems detected what officials described as an air quality issue. The nature of the substance has not been confirmed, and authorities have not said whether the incident poses an active danger or may turn out to be a false alarm.
Arlington County Fire and EMS said its units, including a hazardous materials team, were operating at the Pentagon in support of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency’s hazmat team.
According to US media reports citing sources familiar with the situation, several floors and corridors inside the building were closed off, while other areas were evacuated as a precaution. CNN reported that police officers inside the Pentagon were seen wearing protective suits and masks.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said on Thursday that the building’s systems had detected an air quality issue which required precautionary measures while officials assessed its significance.
“The Department is executing standard protection protocols, including a shelter-in-place order for the affected area,” Parnell said, adding that response teams were in place to support people inside the building.
No injuries were immediately reported, and officials have not provided further details on the possible source of the alert.
With information from protothema.gr, NBC
