Reichstag Building Evacuated After Gas Alarm, Cleaning Agent Suspected Cause

Emergency Response at Germany's Parliament

A gas detector activated an alarm in Germany's iconic Reichstag building in Berlin early on Thursday, February 19, 2026, leading to a significant deployment of the Berlin fire brigade. The automatic alert was received around 5:15 AM, initiating a large-scale operation at the seat of the German Parliament.

Approximately 80 firefighters, along with several units of equipment, were dispatched to the scene to investigate the potential hazardous situation. Emergency responders entered the area where the alarm originated.

Cleaning Agent Identified as Probable Cause

Initial investigations by the fire department indicated that the alarm was most likely triggered by an unusually high concentration of a cleaning agent. A spokesperson for the fire brigade stated that a concentrate of a cleaning agent was discovered at the site, and it is believed that an overdose of this substance might have caused the gas detector to activate.

While a small amount of a hazardous substance was initially suspected to have escaped, further investigation pointed towards the cleaning product as the primary cause, rather than a more serious incident.

Safety Measures and Operational Impact

As a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the emergency personnel, a decontamination station was established outside the Reichstag building. The operation led to temporary disruptions in the surrounding area, with traffic and bus routes near the Reichstag being diverted for a period.

After approximately two hours, the alarm was called off, and the building, which houses the Bundestag, was reopened around 7:30 AM. Parliamentary operations were able to resume without significant delays following the all-clear.