A tall column of smoke hangs over the south of Berlin. The reason is a fire at a packaging material plant that broke out on Thursday afternoon.

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A fire brigade spokesman said that a hall was on fire in its entirety, other halls were threatened by the flames. It was not immediately known whether people were injured.

The fire brigade moved to Sperenberger Straße in Marienfelde with numerous fire engines. The first alarmed forces called in “extensive” reinforcements, it said. The fire brigade is deployed with around 120 forces.