Emergency alert test – live: Second alarm shock as investigation launched
Users ‘scared to death’ by 2.30am alert
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It was a patchy launch for the test of the government’s new emergency alert system, with reports of some users being woken up by the booming alarm in the early hours of Monday morning.
While the alert was scheduled to go out at 3pm on Sunday, some people said they did not receive the notification, while others reported the alert arriving early or late.
One mobile user told The Independent they had not received the alert on Sunday afternoon, but 2.30am on Monday.
Others took to social media with similar tales, with one user exclaiming: “Why have I just received a 2nd severe alert notification at 2:30 am? Nightmare!
“Scared me to death!!” they added.
Professor of telecommunications, Nigel Linge, said that it is not surprising the emergency alert did not work “perfectly”.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain, he said: “It is not unusual that a test of this type did not work perfectly. That is what you expect. I don’t think anyone in the mobile phone industry would be surprised that it wasn’t perfect.”
The Cabinet Office said it would be reviewing the outcome of the UK-wide test of the new emergency alert system.
Warning for motorists ahead of emergency alert test
A road safety charity has issued a warning to drivers ahead of the government’s emergency alert test.
“We always recommend that people turn off their mobile phone while driving or riding – or put it out of reach, in ‘Do not disturb/Driving mode’ or on silent – so that it is not a distraction,” said Lucy Straker, campaigns manager at Brake.
“We know that any distraction that takes a driver’s mind off the road, for any length of time, is potentially lethal. In 2021, mobile phone use contributed to more than 116 fatal or serious collisions on UK roads.
“With the emergency alert test, it is important that people know when it is happening so if they have to drive or ride at that time, they are prepared and understand how to respond.
“If your phone is switched on, the alert will play for 10 seconds. If you are driving when the alert occurs, please do not look at or touch your phone until you have safely parked your vehicle and turned off your engine.
“We would also recommend fleet managers inform their drivers of the alert and, if possible, schedule journeys to avoid driving when the alert takes place.”
Rishi Sunak issues reminder of emergency alert test
A reminder of today’s test has been issued on Rishi Sunak’s Twitter account, with details of what to expect.
Not long to go now
Just 15 minutes to go until the alert goes off.
Millions of people around the country can expect their phones to go off at 3pm.
And as a reminder - it’s a test of the emergency alert system so don’t panic.
The system is intended to be used to warn citizens of life-threatening situations such as flooding, wildfires, terror attacks or nuclear threats, and is based upon similar schemes in the United States, Canada, Japan and Netherlands.
Alert done
Millions have now received their emergency alert text but some people claim to have missed out.
Many are reporting to have received the alert at 2.59pm instead of the scheduled 3pm.
Pictured: The nation reacts as first emergency alert test goes off
Some get alert early - and others didn't get it at all
It appears the emergency alert did not go entirely to plan.
Some phone users have said the alert went off at 2.59pm, not 3pm as planned, while others have said they did not get the alert at all.
Britons complain alert went off 18 minutes late
Millions of people around the country received an emergency alert text on their phones at 3pm today.
Some received the text early, while others said they did not receive the text at all.
Watch as the alert went off at King’sCross station in London.
Watch: Emergency alert goes off at shopping centre
Millions of people around the country received an emergency alert text on their phones at 3pm today.
Some received the text early, while others said they did not receive the text at all.
Watch as the alert went off at a shopping centre.
Watch: Emergency alert goes off at Wembley Stadium ahead of FA Cup semi-final
Some Britons complain they received emergency alert after 3pm
Millions of people around the country received an emergency alert text on their phones at 3pm today.
However, some received the text early, while others said they did not receive the text at all.
Some Britons took to Twitter to complain that they received the alert 10-12 minutes after 3pm.
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