Hazardous materials incident reported at US Pentagon

Pentagon
Floors two ‌through five of the Pentagon have reportedly been locked down. -AP

Firefighters are investigating ‌a hazardous ‌materials incident at the Pentagon, ‌Arlington ⁠County fire ​and rescue officials say ⁠in a post ‌on ​X.

The ​building was ‌under lockdown ​with people told to leave several ​floors, ​CNN ‌reported, citing unidentified sources.

It said emergency responders were wearing ​full gas masks and chemical protection suits.

"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," ​Pentagon spokesman Sean ‌Parnell said in an email.

"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."

Floors two ‌through five were locked down as well as some corridors, CNN reported.

The five-sided Pentagon building ​is one of the world's largest ​office buildings.