The Pentagon was blocked due to suspicion of dangerous materials

CNN On June 11, citing sources, floors 2 to 5 and some corridors of the Pentagon were blocked. Many people were also evacuated from several floors.

Arlington County Fire and Rescue, where the US Department of Defense is headquartered, said they were investigating the hazardous materials incident. According to CNN, emergency rescue workers wore gas masks and chemical protective suits to handle the situation.

“The Pentagon has sophisticated systems to ensure the safety of buildings and people inside. Those systems detect air quality problems, so precautions need to be taken until we determine the severity,” said Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.

Mr. Parnell added that the US Department of Defense is implementing standard protection procedures, including a shelter-in-place order for the affected area. Response teams are on scene and ready to assist people in the building.

The Pentagon Force Protection Agency’s hazardous materials response team is handling the incident with assistance from the Arlington County fire department. The Pentagon’s security department said additional checks were needed.

“The additional inspection process may last 1-2 hours. You may see response forces from multiple agencies and preventative measures being applied in the central courtyard. Please do not over-interpret this activity,” the security department’s announcement read.

The Pentagon is one of the largest office buildings in the world. This facility was attacked during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.