Markets 
By Johanna Urbancik
Published on
A hazardous materials alert was triggered at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) on Thursday evening. The incident was prompted by a report from a woman who allegedly told federal police she was carrying toxic substances in her handbag.
A police spokesperson confirmed to the Tagesspiegel that Terminal 1 was then evacuated.
Passengers were ordered to leave the building. Flight operations were temporarily suspended. According to the federal police, the woman had mentioned the allegedly dangerous substances at the service desk.
As it was initially unclear what substance was involved, a potential danger could not be ruled out. A hazardous materials alert was therefore declared. Emergency teams are now examining the handbag and the unknown substance.
According to information from the Tagesspiegel, the woman had approached the federal police via an escalator before the incident. There, she is said to have pointed out the substances in her bag. Officers overpowered the woman and took her into custody.
A security cordon was then set up around the handbag. Large numbers of emergency responders were deployed to BER. Alongside the airport fire brigade, several fire services from the Dahme-Spreewald district are also involved in the operation. Personnel are working in protective suits and with specialised equipment.
An emergency coordination centre has also been set up. Such a hub is activated when a complex situation exceeds normal operating procedures.
According to Tagesspiegel and dpa, rail services to the airport were also temporarily suspended.
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