Travellers were evacuated from a part of the airport in Hamburg, Germany, after people were injured because of an “unknown toxin” in the air conditioner system.
GERMANY (@AP) – Hamburg Airport has been evacuated of hundreds of passengers after 50 people were injured by an unknown toxin.
— AliciaMelville-Smith (@alicia_ms) February 12, 2017
Tourist Vicky Elise had to leave Hamburg Airport immediately after an unknown toxin spread through air con system https://t.co/ueb4bMb8my
— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 12, 2017
Police say it was not a terrorist incident:
Press conference following Hamburg Airport evacuation. Not a terrorist incident and 68 people have been treated https://t.co/o9Rqyq0IQp
— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 12, 2017
The Associated Press doesn’t report a cause at all yet:
German firefighters on Sunday evacuated hundreds of passengers at Hamburg Airport after about 50 people were injured by an unknown hazardous material that likely spread through the airport’s air conditioning system.
All flights were halted for several hours due to the evacuation, but air traffic started running again around 2 p.m., airport spokeswoman Karen Stein said.
More than 50 people — both passengers and staff — had complained about breathing problems, burning eyes and nausea. Firefighters were examining them to find out whether they had to be taken to the hospital, the German news agency dpa reported.
Chaos at #Hamburg airport. Very suspicious !!!! Gas leak ? #coverup pic.twitter.com/5XLHxD9eXZ
— Fraser Gregory (@Fraser1776) February 12, 2017
Of course we immediately wonder if terrorism is involved when these events happen but its perfectly possible that some other cause accidentally released a toxic chemical. We will just have to wait and see…