A hazardous materials alert was activated at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) on Thursday evening, resulting in the evacuation of Terminal 1 and a temporary suspension of flight operations. The incident began when a woman approached federal police officers and reported that she was carrying toxic substances in her handbag.
According to a spokesperson for the federal police, as reported by Tagesspiegel, the initial reports did not specify the nature of the substances, meaning a potential danger could not be dismissed. Consequently, authorities declared a hazardous materials emergency.
Reports indicate the woman had flagged down officers near an escalator before the situation escalated. Officers subdued the woman and placed her in custody. A security cordon was established around the bag while specialized teams examined the unknown contents.
Large-scale emergency responses were mobilized, involving the airport fire brigade and additional units from the Dahme-Spreewald district. Personnel utilized protective suits and specialized equipment during the operation. An emergency coordination center was also activated to manage the complex situation.
In addition to the terminal evacuation, regional rail services connecting to the airport were temporarily halted.
Leave a Reply