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'Someone Threw Their Phone Away': Brits Left Terrified by Emergency Alert Test
The Emergency Alert test reached millions to prepare for real dangers, but raised safety concerns for vulnerable groups, including women hiding phones from abusers, a charity warned.
- On Sunday, mobile phones across the United Kingdom received a test Emergency Alert at around 3pm BST, sounding a blaring alarm and displaying a message stating `This is a test of Emergency Alerts` with no action needed.
- Previously, authorities used the system during Storm Eowyn and Storm Darragh to reach millions, including about 4.5 million in Scotland and Northern Ireland and around three million in England and Wales, with a UK charity calling it a `vital tool`.
- Many users on X described being startled by the loud alarm, with one writing, `I’m on a bus and forgot about the emergency alert despite being reminded me like three times, and it scared the shit out of me`.
- Women's Aid warned the test could endanger people with hidden phones, noting abusers often control victims' communications and urging disabling alerts before Sunday.
- With about 87 million mobile phones in the UK and 95% 4G or 5G access, emergency services use other methods to warn those without compatible devices.
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C 82%
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