Pentagon Lockdown Due to False Anthrax Alert

The Pentagon was placed on lockdown for several hours Thursday as first responders rushed to the US defense building for a hazmat situation. A false alarm concerning air quality briefly prompted a partial shelter-in-place order as emergency services investigated a potential exposure to hazardous materials. Sources told CNN that the response was triggered by a malfunctioning sensor system that detected possible anthrax in the air. The Independent reached out to the Pentagon for comment. The lockdown affected several corridors of the sprawling five-sided building in Arlington, Virginia, with staff instructed to remain in place while tests were conducted. The Pentagon, located near the Potomac River in the Washington, D.C., area, serves as the Defense Department’s headquarters. About 24,000 military personnel and civilians work in the building, along with 3,000 non-defense support workers. Officials suspected a faulty sensor might have been the cause of the alert. As a precaution, many employees located outside the immediate areas of concern were evacuated from the US military's headquarters. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the incident, stating: "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 added: "We express our sincere appreciation to the first responders for their swift actions to ensure the safety of all personnel." The incident concluded without harm at the site, which was targeted during the September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda attacks.