A fire has occurred at Diehl's Metal Applications (DMA) metallurgical plant in the Lichterfelde area of Berlin.
Observers noticed a plume of toxic smoke, potentially hazardous to human health, over parts of the German capital on Friday afternoon. Residents were warned to close all windows.
According to reports, students at nearby schools were sent home due to the toxic smoke.
Among other things, Diehl manufactures the IRIS-T air defense systems, though at a different facility.
The IRIS-T is a medium-range honing missile available in air-to-air and surface-to-air variants. Diehl fielded a short-range ground defense variant for the first time in 2015. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany provided Kyiv with truck-mounted medium-range IRIS ground defense batteries. One launcher and separate command vehicle can fire and track 24 missiles simultaneously.
The Mirror has more:
There was reported to be a high risk of poisoning to Berliners and more than 130 firefighters on the site, wearing protective suits. Moscow media sources rushed to cover the inferno, linking it to the missiles. It is not immediately clear if sabotage may have caused the inferno. The blaze broke out at Diehl Metal Applications in the city's Lichterfelde district. It is reportedly part of the Diehl Defence company, manufacturer of the deadly IRIS-T.
The company's headquarters on the same street as the burning building and Diehl Metal Applications reportedly runs its its own electroplating system for refining metal surfaces in the blaze-hit building. Adrian Wenzel, spokesman for the Berlin fire department, who was at the scene of the fire, told German tabloid Bild: “The building is now completely burned through on four floors. Part of the building has already collapsed. The fire can no longer be brought under control from the inside.”
People were urged to avoid the scene and homes in Berlin-Lichterfelde, asked to keep their windows and doors shut and turn off ventilation and air conditioning systems. Firefighters remained on the scene this afternoon tackling the huge blaze.. The fire is believed to have started in a technical room on the first floor of the multi-story building, but now engulfs all the factory. There have been no reported injuries and the factory has been evacuated, officials said.
Specialists are analysing air quality to determine whether there are any harmful substances in the air. Russian defence ministry today published a video of a strike by its forces on an IRIS-T medium range infrared homing ground-to-air system. It was hit by two Russian Kh-35 missiles.
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