Several floors of the Pentagon have been evacuated due to hazardous materials

An incident involving hazardous materials occurred at the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense (the Pentagon).

This was reported by CNN, citing three sources. According to the network, access to a number of floors and corridors in the building has been restricted. Some areas are being evacuated, and precautionary measures are in effect throughout the complex.

According to CNN, the restrictions have affected several floors and corridors of the building. Sources also report that police officers working inside the complex are using chemical protective equipment and gas masks. Official information regarding the nature of the potential threat and any casualties has not yet been provided.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said that monitoring systems detected anomalies in air quality. In response, the department's leadership activated standard security measures pending the determination of the causes of the incident. Emergency services are on site to support personnel.

Hazardous materials specialists from the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, as well as units of the Arlington County Fire Department, have been deployed to handle the aftermath. According to local services, the incident is being treated as a possible hazardous materials event.