Later this year, millions of Britons will hear a loud emergency siren blare from their mobile phones. The Government is preparing to retest the controversial "Armageddon Alert" system.
A 10-second siren will blast through 87 million devices across the UK. The alarm will even go off if phones are on silent, ensuring the message gets through.
The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is designed to warn the public about imminent threats to life, such as natural disasters or major incidents.
The system was first launched in 2023, with a test on April 23. This year marks its fifth test.
The Cabinet Office says that regular tests are essential for ensuring the UK’s preparedness, aligning with similar systems in other countries.
In response to the Covid inquiry, the government will retest the system later this year. A date is still pending.
The most recent alert occurred in December 2024, where over 3 million people were urged to stay indoors due to severe weather warnings from Storm Darragh.
Other alerts have been used for evacuations, such as the discovery of an unexploded WWII bomb and flood risks in Cumbria.
The system targets 4G and 5G phones within a specific area, causing them to vibrate and sound the siren for a few seconds.
The test message warns users, saying: "This is a test of Emergency Alerts... you do not need to take any action."