US Pentagon on lockdown over reports of hazardous materials incident

• The Pentagon was placed on lockdown on June 11 due to a hazardous materials incident and an air quality issue detected by its safety systems.
• Floors two to five in corridors four to seven were evacuated, with emergency responders wearing chemical suits, CNN reported.
• Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed precautionary measures; additional testing is under way to determine the problem's source.

WASHINGTON – A hazardous materials incident put the Pentagon on lockdown on June 11, as fire officials investigated the air quality issue, defence and fire officials said.

“The Pentagon has sophisticated systems to ensure the safety of the building and its occupants,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in an email. “Those systems have detected an air quality issue necessitating precautionary measures until we determine its significance. 

“The Department is executing standard protection protocols, including a shelter-in-place order for the affected area. Response teams are in place and ready to support building occupants.”

The building was under lockdown, with people evacuated from several floors, CNN reported, citing unidentified sources.

Floors two through five in corridors four through seven have been locked down, CNN said, citing two sources.

Another source reported seeing emergency responders were wearing full gas masks and chemical protection suits, CNN said.

A message sent by the Pentagon’s security team said additional testing was needed to determine the source of the problem, according to CNN.

The Pentagon building, hit during the Sept 11, 2001, Al-Qaeda attacks, is one of the world’s largest office buildings. REUTERS