Fire breaks out at German defense giant’s sister company in Berlin

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - A massive fire at a metal processing factory in Berlin prompted authorities to shut down roads, and issue a warning for residents in the area to remain indoors.

Huge plumes of black smoke were billowing into the sky, as authorities told local media that the blaze spread to the sites where flammable chemicals were stored.

Berlin’s fire department urged people living in the area and neighboring suburbs to keep their windows closed and turn off air conditioning systems, due to the possible toxic smoke in the area.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known, and firefighters were struggling to get the blaze under control.

According to the BZ daily, the burning building was a metal processing factory of Diehl Metall, the sister company of defense giant Diehl Defence.

The German weapons manufacturer is internationally known for its IRIS-T air defense systems, which are currently in service in Ukraine.

A company spokesman told local media that the factory in Berlin was mainly manufacturing parts for the automotive industry, and not involved in the production of weapons systems.