Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The Pentagon goes into a partial lockdown and evacuation on Thursday June 11, 2026 after its security systems detected an "air quality issue" that triggered a hazardous materials incident response.
The incident, which lasted several hours, was later confirmed to be a false alarm.
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The initial warning of a potential hazard was detected around 9:00 a.m. EDT, prompting authorities to issue a shelter-in-place order around 10:30 a.m. EDT.
The Pentagon's advanced sensor system reportedly detected the possible presence of anthrax in the air, which was the primary trigger for the false alarm.
“Earlier this morning, Pentagon occupants were notified of a potential air quality issue, prompting immediate precautionary safety measures and evaluation,” said Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.
Lockdown and Evacuation Incident
The incident began with the detection of an "air quality issue" at 9:00 a.m. EDT.
Approximately an hour and a half later, at 10:30 a.m. EDT, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the affected area.
During this period, at least 2,500 personnel were ordered to remain in safe locations.
Several floors and corridors within the Pentagon were also locked down and evacuated as a precaution.
Normal operations at the Pentagon resumed around 1:30 p.m. local time, after extensive testing confirmed there was no imminent threat.
Sean Parnell posted on X that “normal operations have resumed” at the Pentagon.
Multi-Layered Emergency Response
Immediately after the alert, hazardous materials (hazmat) teams from the Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA) and the Arlington County Fire Department were deployed to the scene.
Medical crews were also involved to address potential casualties.
These emergency measures followed initial reports of a "suspicious odor" and at least one individual experiencing chest pain in the courtyard of the building.
Thorough testing was conducted to ensure no hazardous substances were actually present.
False Alarm Caused by Sensor Malfunction
Sources cited by CNN reported that the root cause of the incident was a malfunction in the sensor system.
The sensor mistakenly detected airborne anthrax, triggering all emergency protocols.
Sean Parnell, Pentagon spokesman, later issued a statement confirming that the situation had been "all-cleared."
The incident happened amid heightened global security concerns, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran.
However, authorities asserted there was no direct link between the conflict and the cause of the false alarm at the Pentagon.