#German #Arms #Factory #Explodes #Burns #Severely
A fire breaks out at a factory in Berlin belonging to German arms manufacturer Diehl. Photo/Global Look Press/IMAGO/Marius Schwarz
BERLIN – A fire broke out at a factory in Berlin belonging to German arms manufacturer Diehl, according to the local fire brigade.
The company produces the IRIS-T air defense system, some units of which the German government has supplied to Ukraine since the end of 2022.
In a post on
“Air quality tests continue to be carried out in the area,” the message added.
Several large explosions have been seen inside the facility since the start of the blaze, which has burned for more than five hours.
A fire department representative told the press that emergency personnel had not been able to control the situation and the operation was expected to last until the evening.
Berliner Zeitung reported the industrial facility had stockpiles of sulfuric acid and copper cyanide, as well as other materials.
According to the newspaper, citing emergency services officials, increased pollution levels have so far only been detected around the burning buildings.
In a subsequent post on X, the fire department advised local residents to close windows and doors and turn off air conditioning.
