D.C. Police Investigate Suspicious Package Near University
Metropolitan Police are responding to a reported hazmat-type incident occurring outside George Washington University. The incident, located at the intersection of 23rd Street and I Street NW, is approximately two and a half miles from the Pentagon.
An official spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that officers are investigating a “suspicious package” near the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library. The call came in shortly before 11 a.m., and by early afternoon, the intersection remained cordoned off, with authorities advising the public to steer clear of the area.
At this time, there is no indication that this incident is connected to any other ongoing events, according to departmental statements.
Pentagon Briefly Locked Down Amid Air Quality Concerns
Earlier on Thursday, sections of the Pentagon building experienced a lockdown. This action was prompted by the arrival of the Arlington County Fire Department’s hazmat response team after an air quality issue was detected.
Pentagon employees were initially instructed to shelter in place while air quality tests were conducted. Images showed firefighters in full protective gear, including gas masks, entering the building in Arlington, Virginia.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that “precautionary measures” were implemented “until we determine its significance” following the detection of an “air quality issue.” While later reports suggested the initial lockdown may have been due to a false alarm, a shelter-in-place order remained in effect for some areas of the Pentagon shortly before 12:30 p.m.
