Explosions rock German arms manufacturing plant (VIDEO) — RT World News

The local fire department reported that a fire broke out at a factory in Berlin belonging to the German arms manufacturer Diehl. The company produces the IRIS-T air defense system, of which the German government has supplied Ukraine with several units since late 2022.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, the Berlin Fire Department reported that A “The factory building where the chemicals are stored also burns.” And 190 personnel were deployed at the scene.

“Air quality tests are conducted on an ongoing basis.” The message adds in the area.

Several large explosions were observed inside the facility since the beginning of the fire, which continued for more than five hours. A representative of the fire department told the press that emergency personnel had not yet been able to control the situation and the operation was expected to continue until the night.

The industrial facility has a stockpile of sulfuric acid and copper cyanide, among other materials, the Berliner Zeitung newspaper reported.

According to the newspaper, citing emergency service officials, high pollution levels have so far only been detected in the immediate vicinity of the burning building.

In a subsequent post on X, the fire department advised local residents to close their windows and doors and turn off their air conditioners.

The Berliner Zeitung also quoted a fire department spokesman as saying that the fire had engulfed an area of ​​about 2,000 square metres. Because of the dangerous chemicals inside the factory, firefighters cannot enter the building and are extinguishing the flames from the outside.

Officials have not yet provided details about the cause of the fire.

Diehl's website notes that the company tested a prototype of the IRIS-T air defense system in 1996, and it was later adopted by the German Army and the militaries of several other countries.

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