The Pentagon was almost completely shutdown on Thursday morning when a sensor detected anthrax inside the building. The detector triggered a multi-hour lockdown, mass evacuations, and a hazmat emergency response… before officials determined the whole thing was a false alarm.
A “SEVERE”-rated alert was sent to employees inside the building ordering a shelter-in-place. Three floors and multiple corridors were shut down. Other sections were evacuated. The Arlington County Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Team was dispatched to the building to support the Pentagon Force Protection Agency’s own hazmat response unit.
The false alarm came as a significant time given the current geopolitical environment. The United States remains in an active military conflict with Iran.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell posted the all-clear on X at 1:30 p.m.
“Earlier this morning, Pentagon occupants were notified of a potential air quality issue, prompting immediate precautionary safety measures and evaluation,” Parnell wrote. “Subsequent testing confirmed no hazard exists. Normal operations have resumed.”
STATEMENT:
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.
We express our sincere… https://t.co/QReD77PR4V
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellASW) June 11, 2026