Why an Emergency Alert went off on phones today

If you hadn't seen the news in recent weeks, you may be wondering why an alert went off on your phone this afternoon.

Millions of people received a notification, accompanied by a loud 10-second siren sound and vibration, on their phone at 3pm today as the government tested its new emergency alert system.

The new service, which will be used to warn people about dangerous situations, such as floods or wildfires, was tested out nationwide on all mobile phones that are compatible with 4G and 5G - and still have the alerts switched on.

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A message popped up on the screen informing the user that the test was being conducted. Users then had to acknowledge the message by swiping it away or clicking 'Okay' before continuing to use their device.

The message read: “This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby. In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information. This is a test. You do not need to take any action.”

Speaking ahead of the test, Cabinet member Oliver Dowden said: “At 3pm next Sunday we’ll be doing a nationwide test of our new Emergency Alerts system. Getting this system operational means we have a vital tool to keep the public safe in life-threatening emergencies. It could be the sound that saves your life.”

The new system is based on similar services that are used in other countries including the US, Canada, the Netherlands and Japan. The government has said it will be a "vital tool to keep the public safe in life-threatening emergencies".

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