Pentagon lifts evacuation order after declaring ‘no hazard exists’

12 Jun 2026 • 3:44 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Pentagon lifts evacuation order after declaring ‘no hazard exists’

  • The Pentagon was placed on lockdown Thursday morning following the detection of an "air quality issue" by its internal systems.
  • Hazmat teams from the Pentagon Force Protection Agency and Arlington County Fire Department responded to the incident, which also involved some evacuations.
  • Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that precautionary measures were taken until the significance of the issue could be determined. “Earlier this morning, Pentagon occupants were notified of a potential air quality issue, prompting immediate precautionary safety measures and evaluation. Subsequent testing confirmed no hazard exists, and normal operations have resumed,” he wrote on X.
  • Today’s hazmat situation at the Pentagon may have been triggered by a false alarm after a malfunctioning sensor detected possible anthrax, CNN reported.
  • Normal operations resumed around 1:30 p.m. local time after subsequent testing confirmed no hazard, suggesting the incident was a false alarm.

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