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If you thought we were on the brink of World War III, think again.

The earth is being protected by a band of "alien guardians" protecting us from "dark forces".

That's if you believe a bonkers religion that's managed to gain hundreds of thousands of followers.

Introducing The Galactic Federation of Light and the Ashtar Command.

And its key members are REFUSING to talk to Daily Star Online.

(Image: GETTY)

The Galactic Federation claims it is a fleet of extraterrestrials surrounding our planet – an alliance of spiritual beings that resemble humans.

It claims to have protected Earth "behind the scenes" by doing the following:

- Disabling nuclear missiles

- Stopping the insertion of "nanotechnology" into vaccines

- Lowered the radiation from the nuclear disaster in Japan

- Cleaned the oil spill in the Gulf Coast

(Image: IG)

Ashtar Command – the religion's other faction – first came into the public eye in the 1950s.

George van Tassel, an alleged UFO contact, claims he was contacted by an ET called Ashtar.

Van Tassel described Ashtar as a Jesus Christ from space and claimed he was in touch with dead humans, including the brilliant scientist and inventor Nikola Tesla.

He said Ashtar warned humanity over the use of the hydrogen bomb and the affect it would have on the Earth.

The tests still went ahead – and there were no major problems.

(Image: YOUTUBE)

But van Tassel claimed it was Ashtar who stopped Mother Nature suffering ill effects from the detonations.

Despite a number of failed prophecies and conflicting accounts of meeting Ashtar, the UFO religion has thousands of members.

And what's the ultimate goal of this "cult"?

The ascension of humans into space to join extraterrestrials, angels and lightbeings among its space fleet of millions of starships.

The cult bares similarities to the controversial scientology movement.

It follows the beliefs and practices of L Ron Hubbard, who launched the Church of Scientology in 1953.

People who follow scientology believe people are alien beings trapped in a human body.

(Image: IG)

They claim the aliens – called thetans – have lived numerous past lives in physical bodies and other planets.

Hollywood stars like Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Juliette Lewis all famously buy in to the religion.

It all seems far-fetched but one incident involving alleged Ashtar Command members remains a groundbreaking addition to British history.

Ashtar Command and the Galactic Federation of Light remain largely unheard but it was allegedly responsible for an "alien broadcast" on British terrestrial television in the late 1970s.

The creepy transmission – called the Southern Television hoax – remains the ONLY time British television has been interrupted by an outside source.

The ITN early evening news read by Andrew Gardner was hijacked by an "alien voice" claiming to be from Ashtar Command.

(Image: GETTY)

(Image: GETTY)

Ashtar Command claims the voice was of Vrillon – the group's spokesman – who told viewers "all your weapons of evil must be destroyed" and "you have but a short time to learn to live together in peace".

The voice added: "We come to warn you of the destiny of your race and your world so that you may communicate to your fellow beings, the course you must take to avoid the disasters which threaten your world, and the beings on our worlds around you.

"For many years your scientists, government and generals have not heeded our warnings; they have continued to experiment with evil forces of what you call nuclear energy.

(Image: IG) (Image: GETTY)

"Atomic bombs can destroy the Earth, and the beings of your sister worlds, in a moment."

It is unclear where Ashtar Command or the Galactic Federation of Light are based but its members are scattered around the world.

The majority of followers are in the US but there is a presence in Europe and Australia.

Daily Star Online contacted Ashtar Command in an attempt to interview one of its representatives.

But a key member, only known as BenArion, refused our request.

He said he would not talk to Daily Star Online claiming it "feeds on the lower nature of our reactive mind".