What would an emergency nuclear missile warning look like in the UK?

In the wake of Hawaii’s shock false ballistic missile alarm, many people have been left wondering what would happen in the UK if the same thing happened.

Hawaii was left in a state of panic at the weekend after an emergency worker accidentally sent a text message alert warning of an inbound ballistic missile threat, urging people to “seek immediate shelter”.

Authorities have since said the way of issuing an alert has changed so similar false alarms can’t happen.

It’s not completely clear how a similar alert would be issued in the UK, but in 2013 the Cabinet Office announced it would test a system to send emergency alerts to mobile phones.

False alarm – an emergency alert warning of an imminent missile strike sparked panic in Hawaii at the weekend (Pictures: AP)

The following year it said it planned to run trials with three of the UK’s biggest mobile network operators.

But according to the BBC, mobile phone companies say nothing has yet been agreed, although they are working with the government to look at text alerts.

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With Second World War-style warning sirens largely dismantled, it is likely that TV and radio would be used to warn people in the event of a missile attack.

Professor John Preston, a preparedness expert at the University of Essex, told Sun Online that the BBC may have updated plans it put in place to broadcast warnings during the Cold War.

Warning – an emergency missile warning was sent by an emergency worker by mistake in Hawaii

He told the website: “The BBC has a policy called ‘Connecting in a Crisis’. It will have protocols in place but we, as the public, don’t know what they are.”

While details are unknown, the BBC has previously revealed it ‘War Book’ for broadcasting in the event of a nuclear strike.

A pre-recorded message from late Radio 4 newsreader would state: “This is the Wartime Broadcasting Service. This country has been attacked with nuclear weapons.

“Communications have been severely disrupted, and the number of casualties and the extent of the damage are not yet known. We shall bring you further information as soon as possible.

“Meanwhile, stay tuned to this wavelength, stay calm and stay in your own homes.”

The announcement urged people not to go outside, to turn off gas supplies and fill containers with water, and to ration their food.

But Professor Preston it was important people would know what a warning would look like, or they might dismiss it as a hoax, not to mention the fact that TV viewing has changed.

“The issue is that if a message were to go out on national television, lots of people use Netflix and other services so may not be watching at that time.

“In fact, it takes a long time to alert the whole of the population.”