U.S. authorities ordered a multi-floor lockdown of the Pentagon building and evacuated people after an incident involving hazardous substances.
CNN reported, citing three sources and local firefighters, that the Pentagon was placed under a multi-floor lockdown with orders to evacuate personnel from other sections due to an "incident involving hazardous material."
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed on Thursday that the building's internal systems "detected an air quality issue, necessitating precautionary measures until we can determine the severity of the situation."
"The department is following standard protective procedures, including issuing a shelter-in-place order for affected areas," Parnell said. "The hazardous materials response team is on site and ready to assist those inside the building."
Captain Jamie Gill, a fire department spokesperson, stated that the Pentagon's Safety Protection Office hazardous materials team is actively managing the situation with support from Arlington County firefighters.
Meanwhile, the Arlington Fire and Emergency Medical Services posted online that their hazardous materials response team is operating at the Pentagon amid the ongoing hazardous material incident.
Two sources told CNN that floors 2 through 5, specifically the corridors from sections 4 to 7, have been locked down, while a third source revealed that police inside the building are wearing gas masks and full chemical protective suits.
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Source:cnn