Parliament House evacuated, staff, visitors barred from Senate entrance

Australia’s federal parliament building is being evacuated and all visitors and staff are banned from entering the building.

Parliament and emergency services closed the Senate wing of the building in Canberra on Thursday morning following reports of the fire.

Just after 10 a.m., alarms began going off in the building and staff were ordered to prepare to evacuate.

It is not yet clear what triggered the incident, which appears to have spread throughout the Senate chamber.

A small number of staff and reporters were ordered to wait outside the entrance before being directed to the evacuation area.

Emergency tape saying “Danger, do not enter” was placed at the entrance.

More to come.