Poisonous cloud hangs over Berlin after chemical factory blaze: Fears of deadly hydrogen cyanide prompts warning to close all windows and stay inside after fire hits firm that makes weapons supplied to Ukraine [Video]

A poisonous cloud is hanging over Berlin after a chemical factory blaze, with firefighters warning deadly hydrogen cyanide could develop. 

Firefighters said sulphuric acid and copper cyanide were stored at the plant and the chemicals ignited, which could create hydrogen cyanide.

People were warned to close all windows, stay inside and switch off ventilation units after the fire hit the firm that makes weapons supplied to Ukraine. 

The state of Berlin has issued an official danger warning and urged people to stay away from the area as the cloud of smoke is already spanning over nearly all of the western area of the city.

The blaze is at Diehl Metal Applications in Berlin’s Lichterfelde district, which is a sister company to the Diehl Defence concern, manufacturer of the deadly IRIS-T missiles.