{"id":175385,"date":"2025-06-11T10:17:17","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T10:17:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/175385\/"},"modified":"2025-06-11T10:17:17","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T10:17:17","slug":"how-european-countries-are-preparing-for-missile-attacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/175385\/","title":{"rendered":"How European countries are preparing for missile attacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

If a foreign state ever launched an air raid on British towns and cities using missiles or bombs, would you know the nearest places to shelter? Would you know how you\u2019d be alerted and where to look for guidance?<\/p>\n

Across northern Europe, most countries have published thorough advice for how and where to shelter. Many have networks of bunkers that can hold millions of people, having invested for decades. Most have thousands of air raid sirens ready to alert the public \u2013 and these are tested at least once a year.<\/p>\n

In contrast, the UK has not maintained public shelters, hasn\u2019t used air raid sirens in decades \u2013 apart from at nuclear sites or military bases \u2013 and has not offered advice for surviving airborne attacks. <\/p>\n

This is despite the UK Government warning that the risk of war with Russia \u2013 although still slim \u2013 is rising.<\/p>\n

In an interview with The i Paper last week, one of the official Strategic Defence Review\u2019s authors, the retired General Sir Richard Barrons, called for the UK to urgently begin work on its own civil defence plans<\/a> and educating the public.<\/p>\n

The UK is planning another test of its emergency alert system<\/a> on mobile phones this year and has started encouraging people to create survival packs<\/a> of food and first aid. But what could British emergency planners learn from European allies \u2013 and how far behind are we?<\/p>\n

Norway\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sirens across Norway will sound for a minute on Wednesday at midday<\/a>. Tests are conducted every June and January to educate the public and check for technical issues. <\/p>\n

The country has about 1,250 sirens<\/a> in towns and cities. However, many Norwegians live in rural areas where nearly half of people are unable to hear them<\/a>. Mobile phone alerts are therefore sent at the same time, like in many nations.<\/p>\n

The Directorate for Civil Protection advises: \u201cIf the sirens sound in short bursts for about one minute, it means \u2018Risk of attack \u2013 seek shelter.\u2019\u201d The police can also activate them for mass terrorist attacks, gas or radioactivity alerts, extreme weather and other emergencies. <\/p>\n

People can listen to different signals online<\/a> to learn what they mean. In a survey last year, a large majority of people in Norway agreed they improved resilience. <\/p>\n

As per Bloomberg, A law was passed in January requiring all new homes to be built with bunkers<\/a>. Citizens are encouraged to have enough supplies to live for seven days without power, and guidance on evacuation procedures<\/a> is available from local authorities.<\/p>\n

Finland\u00a0<\/p>\n

Commonly said to be the most prepared country in Europe, Finland has 50,500 air raid shelters<\/a>, according to an official survey in 2023, because it\u2019s long been mandatory for one to be built under every new apartment building. <\/p>\n

Their floorspace is large enough to accommodate 90 per cent of the country\u2019s 5.5 million people<\/a> \u2013 one of the highest levels in Europe, ahead of Denmark at 80 per cent, Sweden\u2019s 70 per cent, and 45 per cent in Norway. <\/p>\n

\"FinlandFinland has many vast air raid shelters like this one in Helsinki (Photo: Alessandro RAMPAZZO \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\"TheyThey are equipped with bunk beds (Photo: Roni Rekomaa \/ Bloomberg via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\"DuringDuring peacetime, some are used as sport centres and swimming pools (Photo: ALESSANDRO RAMPAZZO \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The Finnish survey found that 91 per cent of shelters could withstand conventional bombs and missiles, and 83 per cent can shield people from radiological emergencies. Laws require them to have ventilators, stackable beds and waterless toilets.<\/p>\n

Finland tests its sirens once a month for seven seconds. If the alarm lasts for a minute or longer, it is genuine. Citizens are advised: \u201cGo indoors. Close all doors, windows, air vents and ventilation systems. Stay calm, turn on the radio and wait for instructions.\u201d They are also asked to avoid using their phones \u201cto prevent congestion on the lines<\/a>\u201d. <\/p>\n

Finns aged up to 40 are advised to buy and store iodine tablets<\/a> from pharmacies in case a nuclear accident or explosion ever spreads radiation. Concerns have risen since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in case any nuclear sites \u2013 including the disaster zone at Chernobyl \u2013 are damaged and leaks are spread by wind. However, Finland\u2019s national preparedness website underlines that sheltering is still essential, as iodine only offers partial protection. <\/p>\n

If a radiation hazard occurs, people are told to seal doors and windows with tape. If they must go outside, they are told: \u201cPut on tight-fitting clothes that cover your entire body and skin\u2026 Use a respirator mask or cover your face with a towel or a paper towel to prevent radioactive particles from entering your lungs.\u201d <\/p>\n

Switzerland\u00a0<\/p>\n

It might seem surprising for a country with an official policy of neutrality dating back to 1815. But as The Guardian reports, Switzerland has more bunkers per person than any other country<\/a>: 370,000 of them, able to shelter all 9 million of its citizens.<\/p>\n

Like in Finland, where they serve as car parks and sport centres in peacetime, the Swiss have used them as wine cellars and saunas \u2013 but the facilities remain ready for emergencies. They are paid for by property developers.<\/p>\n

The country also has 7,200 sirens<\/a> which are tested every February, together with an alerts app. <\/p>\n

\"ThousandsThousands of residential buildings in Switzerland have nuclear shelters underneath them, like this one in Meyrin, near Geneva (Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Sweden\u00a0<\/p>\n

A total of 4,500 outdoor horns are tested four times every year<\/a>, most recently last week. <\/p>\n

There are four different signals, but repeated two-second bleeps signal an air raid. People with hearing impediments can install phone apps to help. <\/p>\n

The country has 64,000 shelters<\/a>, located using an online map<\/a>, with space for about 7 million of its 10.5 million population. Authorities say these facilities \u201cwill protect against a blast and shrapnel from a bomb that hits in the vicinity of the shelter, but it may not withstand a direct hit. The shelter also protects against gases, radioactivity and biological agents.\u201d <\/p>\n

To counter any false news from foreign enemies, citizens were told in a civil defence booklet last year: \u201cIf Sweden is attacked by another country, we will never give up. All information to the effect that resistance is to cease is false.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia\u00a0<\/p>\n

When more than 1,000 sirens were tested by Lithuania last November<\/a>, they could even be heard in the countryside, reaching two thirds of the public. Another drill was held in April.<\/p>\n

Emergency alerts were sent to every mobile phone in the country, with links to a map of shelters and stark advice about what to do<\/a> in the event of war. Guidance was also broadcast on TV and radio.<\/p>\n

Lithuania recommends having a bag of essential items ready at home to grab at any time if an evacuation is ordered. It suggests including photos of friends and family, saying: \u201cYou will need them when looking for loved ones.\u201d <\/p>\n

If a bomb explodes, people are told to \u201cdrop to the ground and cover your head with arms,\u201d while trying to find shelter. If the country is invaded and Lithuanians see foreign soldiers on their streets, they are told: \u201cDo not stare at military equipment, weapons or armed people at close distance \u2013 you may be treated as a spy.\u201d <\/p>\n

Lithuania\u2019s Baltic neighbours also held siren tests last month. In Latvia, most worked without any problems<\/a>. But Estonia found that only 62 per cent<\/a> of sirens activated properly and none were sufficiently loud, while app-based alerts were glitchy. <\/p>\n

\"OtherOther countries around the world are also prepared for attacks with sirens placed in cities, like here on the South Korean island of Ulleungdo (Photo: ANTHONY WALLACE \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\"AirAir raid drills are also held in Taiwan, leading people to shelter in underground stations (Photo: Daniel Ceng \/ Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Poland\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bordering Ukraine, the nation has been on high alert since Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of its neighbour in 2022. The capital, Warsaw, held a full drill for the first time last year involving sirens, text messages and broadcast messages<\/a>, while schools and businesses took part in a safety awareness week. <\/p>\n

Poland only has space for 300,000 people in official bomb shelters, but it has inspected and designated other locations such as basements, tunnels and underground stations<\/a> to serve as \u201chiding places\u201d or \u201ctemporary shelter\u201d. <\/p>\n

Denmark\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sirens are tested in Denmark every May, in drills lasting 10 minutes<\/a>. They are installed in urban areas with more than 1,000 residents. It has enough shelters and \u201csafe rooms\u201d to accommodate 3.6 million people<\/a>, although this includes basements and underground car parks.<\/p>\n

Germany\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

The network of air raid bunkers in Germany is being revamped under plans confirmed last week.<\/p>\n

The country\u2019s Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance chief, Ralph Tiesler, revealed that just 580 of 2,000 shelters<\/a> dating back to the Cold War are functional, enough to cater for 480,000 people \u2013 as The Guardian reports.<\/p>\n

Germany is also producing an app for people to find their nearest shelter at short notice<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must quickly create space for 1 million people,\u201d he said. \u201cExisting structures must be assessed and adapted without delay.\u201d<\/p>\n

He explained that focusing on building new ones would take too long. <\/p>\n

Tiesler suggests Germany must spend at least \u20ac10bn (\u00a38.4bn) on civil defence over the next four years, calling for a civil protection service to be established and saying people should have enough emergency supplies to last 10 days.<\/p>\n

\"GermanyGermany is starting a programme of revamping old air raid shelters, which may look like this one from the Second World War (Photo: MATTHIAS BALK \/ DPA \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

France\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Apart from during the summer, France\u2019s 2,100 sirens<\/a> are tested once a month<\/a>. This happens on the first Wednesday, at around midday. In a real emergency, three alarms would be sounded, with each blare lasting one minute and 41 seconds. The system is managed by the French Air Force but would also be used to signal natural disasters.<\/p>\n

However, like the UK, France has no network of public shelters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Netherlands\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tests of sirens are conducted once a month<\/a>. \u201cEveryone needs to know what the sirens sound like in a disaster or other emergency,\u201d the government says. Nevertheless, there are no public shelters.<\/p>\n

\"AirAir raid sirens were installed in British cities before the Second World War (Photo: Hulton-Deutsch Collection \/ Corbis via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\"AirAir raid shelters were also produced using corrugated metal (Photo: Fox Photos \/ Hulton Archive \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\"TheseThese were placed in people\u2019s gardens (Photo: Fox Photos \/ Hulton Archive \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\"InIn London, people began sheltering in Underground stations during the Blitz (Photo: Hulton-Deutsch Collection \/ Corbis via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Austria\u00a0<\/p>\n

The country has 8,000 alert sirens maintained by the fire brigade, including 165 in the capital. Apart from in Vienna, these are tested every week<\/a> for 15 seconds. A fuller drill with public information is conducted every October<\/a>. Austria is not thought to have any public bunkers.<\/p>\n

Belgium\u00a0<\/p>\n

Perhaps the only country in northern Europe with a comparable lack of preparedness to the UK is Belgium. It is not believed to have a siren network or public shelters. However, it issued advice at the end of last year on how to shelter, evacuate and form emergency plans<\/a> \u2013 and is registering citizens for an alerts app<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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