By Johanna Urbancik
Published on 03/09/2026 – 21:52 GMT+2
A hazardous materials alert was triggered at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) on Thursday evening after a woman informed federal police that she was carrying toxic substances in her handbag.
A police spokesperson told the Tagesspiegel that Terminal 1 was subsequently evacuated.
Passengers were instructed to leave the terminal, and flight operations were temporarily halted. According to federal police, the woman had mentioned the alleged dangerous substances at the service desk.
Because the exact nature of the substance was initially unknown, authorities could not rule out a potential threat and declared a hazardous materials alert. Emergency crews are now examining the handbag and its contents.
According to the Tagesspiegel, the woman had approached the federal police via an escalator before the incident and pointed out the substances in her bag. Officers subdued her and placed her under arrest.
A security perimeter was established around the handbag, and numerous emergency responders were deployed to BER. In addition to the airport’s fire brigade, several fire services from the Dahme‑Spreewald district are participating in the operation, with personnel wearing protective suits and using specialised equipment.
An emergency coordination centre has also been activated, a measure reserved for situations that exceed standard operating procedures.
Tagesspiegel and dpa report that rail services to the airport were likewise suspended temporarily.
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