Pentagon evacuated, multiple floors locked down over possible hazardous exposure

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said monitoring systems inside the building detected an issue that required immediate precautionary action.

In Short

• Parts of Pentagon evacuated as hazardous materials response launched
• Air quality issue triggers emergency protocols at Defense Department headquarters
• CNN reports Pentagon lockdown was later deemed false alarm

Multiple floors inside the Pentagon were placed under lockdown and parts of the building were evacuated on Thursday after officials detected a potential air quality issue that triggered a hazardous materials response, according to CNN and US authorities.

The incident prompted emergency protocols at the headquarters of the US Department of Defense, with specialised response teams deployed across affected areas while investigators worked to determine the cause of the alert.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said monitoring systems inside the building detected an issue that required immediate precautionary action.

"The Department is executing standard protection protocols, including a shelter-in-place order for the affected area," Parnell said, as quoted by CNN.

"Response teams are in place and ready to support building occupants," he added.

AIR QUALITY ALERT TRIGGERS EMERGENCY RESPONSE

According to CNN, multiple floors and corridors inside the sprawling Pentagon complex were locked down after authorities identified what officials described as a potential hazardous materials incident.

A message circulated by the Pentagon's security team informed staff that an "air quality issue" had been detected and additional testing was underway.

"This additional testing could take one to two hours. Response teams are in place and ready to support building occupants if necessary. You may observe response personnel from multiple agencies and precautionary measures taking place in the center courtyard. Please do not interpret these activities," the message said.

Officials have not disclosed what may have caused the air quality concern or whether any harmful substance has been identified.

However, minutes later, CNN citing sources said that the hazardous materials incident that put the Pentagon on lockdown on Thursday was a false alarm.

- Ends
With inputs from agencies