'Panic' in Plymouth after Devonport naval base nuclear siren alarm sounds

Google earth devonport naval base
Aerial view of Devonport Naval Base Credit: Google Earth

Plymouth's nuclear siren caused 'panic' across the city on Monday (July 4), after it sounded outside of its usual testing period. The siren was heard blaring the alert at around 2pm - just hours after the usual test at 11.30am.The Devonport Naval Base siren has never been sounded for a real event, but is part of a robust safety plan in case there ever is an emergency.

Nearby residents and businesses will be used to the wailing sound, like the sirens heard during WW2, but became concerned after it sounded outside of the usual practice alarm.

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The Ministry of Defence has confirmed this afternoon the siren - which are situated outside the base at Camel’s Head, Keyham, Bull Point and across the water at HMS Raleigh - sounded as part of a false alarm.Plymouth City Council has confirmed there is a fault on a "single siren" and there is "no cause for concern". There will now be an investigation to find out why the alarms sounded.A council spokesperson said: "Some of you may have heard the siren from the dockyard go off this afternoon. We have received assurances from both the MOD and Babcock that this is a fault on a single siren and there is no cause for concern."

An investigation will be held into how the alarm was triggered outside of routine testing hours. Credit: BPM Media

Plymouth MP Luke Pollard has reassured residents there is no emergency, but raised fears that residents in the city would not have "confidence" in the siren if it goes off outside the regular weekly test.He said: "Just heard from the Royal Navy at Devonport that the nuclear alarm going off is a FALSE ALARM and there is no nuclear accident.

"As a city we need confidence that when the sirens go off outside the regular weekly test, it is real. False alarm today, [please] do not worry Plymouth."Many residents flooded social media with worried messages. One said that the alarm had "panicked quite a few people".Another added: "Any idea why the Dockyard siren was just sounding? It went off at its usual time this morning but has just sounded again?"A spokesperson for the MoD reported: "The Naval Base emergency alarm has sounded this afternoon outside of the normal 11.30am Monday test. This is a false alarm and no action is required to be taken."There will be an investigation to determine the cause of the unplanned alarm."