Pentagon lockdown and evacuation later described as false alarm

Parts of Pentagon locked down after reported air quality issue

WASHINGTON (CNN)- Parts of the Pentagon were placed under lockdown Thursday morning after officials detected what they initially described as an air quality issue.

A shelter-in-place order was issued for the affected area. Multiple floors and corridors inside the Pentagon were locked down, and some areas were evacuated while officials responded to the situation.

Later Thursday, two sources said the lockdown and evacuation were due to a false alarm.

There was no immediate word on what may have triggered the incident.

(AP) The Pentagon Force Protection Agency’s hazardous materials team was responding to an unknown issue and parts of the Pentagon were under a shelter-in-place order while officials investigate.

“The Pentagon has sophisticated systems to ensure the safety of the building and its occupants. Those systems have detected an air quality issue necessitating precautionary measures until we determine its significance,” Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Thursday. “The Department is executing standard protection protocols, including a shelter-in-place order for the affected area.”

The Arlington County Fire Department also sent units, including its hazardous materials team, according to a posting on its X account. Questions to the media office were referred to the Pentagon.

WASHINGTON (CNN)- Parts of the Pentagon were placed under lockdown Thursday after officials detected what they described as an air quality issue inside the building.

A shelter-in-place order was issued for the affected area as officials worked to determine what triggered the incident.

Multiple sources described the situation as a hazardous materials incident. Officials said multiple floors and corridors inside the Pentagon were locked down, while other areas of the building were being evacuated.

Police were reportedly seen inside the building wearing gas masks and full chemical protective gear.

There was no immediate word on what caused the air quality concern or whether anyone was injured.

This is a developing story. More information will be added as it becomes available.