A factory of the defence-industrial company Diehl, which produces the Iris-T air defence system, caught fire in Berlin, BZ Berlin reports.
The plant is located in the district of Lichterfelde and includes an electroplating facility where metal surfaces are treated. Residents were warned of toxic smoke, urged to stay away from the site, switch off air conditioners, and close doors and windows.
Adrian Wentzel, a spokesman for the Berlin Fire Brigade and currently at the scene of the fire said:
“The building is now completely burnt out on four floors. Part of the building has already collapsed. We are only extinguishing from the outside. From the inside, the fire can no longer be brought under control.”
The Diehl Metal Applications plant workshop contains sulphuric acid and copper cyanide – their combination can produce the extremely poisonous hydrocyanic acid. 130 firefighters in special protective suits are involved in the extinguishment. Teachers and students from nearby schools have been sent home, and shops in the vicinity of the plant have also been closed.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, local emergency services said. Its area was 2,000 square metres, there were no casualties – employees of the plant left it on their own.
Diehl Metall belongs to the German Diehl Group, a subsidiary of Diehl Defence (a Bundeswehr partner) is also located on the same street. The company develops the IRIS-T air defence system, which is currently in service in Ukraine.
