Pentagon lifts lockdown after false alarm 'hazardous materials' incident

LAST UPDATE | 11 Jun

PART OF THE Pentagon went into lockdown earlier today because of a possible “hazardous material incident,” but a spokesman later said it was a false alarm.

“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,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.

The Arlington County Fire Department earlier said it had units “including our Hazardous Materials Team” operating at the Pentagon, which is the headquarters of the US Defense Department.

The fire department had described it as a “hazardous materials incident,” while Parnell had announced a “shelter-in-place order for the affected area.”

A number of floors and corridors at the headquarters of the US Department of Defence had been shut down and evacuated, CNN reported citing sources close to the situation. 

STATEMENT:

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.

The Department is executing standard protection…

— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellASW) June 11, 2026

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said at the time that a “shelter-in-place order” had been issued for an area affected by an “air quality issue,” while the Arlington County Fire Department said it had units “including our Hazardous Materials Team” operating there to address a “hazardous materials incident.”

With reporting from AFP