After the social media invitation to "storm Area 51 on September 20" went viral, rural Nevada expected some activity along the lines. Close to 2 million people were interested in rescuing the 'aliens'. However, fears of a mass raid on the remote site proved to be futile, with only about 150 odd people showing up.

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'Storm Area 51' fears unfounded

On Thursday and Friday, though rural Nevada witnessed a flurry of people venturing in, close to 3,000 in number, few decided to actually go to the gates of Area 51. The build-up since July 27, when a Facebook user had jokingly exhorted readers to 'storm' Area 51 on Sept. 20 to see the aliens, has failed to materialise. The post read, "Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us." 

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Close to 150 people gathered outside the heavily guarded entrance to Area 51 around 3 a.m. on Friday, the date and time set by the social-media invitation. However, the individuals refrained from causing any commotion and seemed like a curious bunch of people to see what was happening. The UFO seekers were dressed up in costumes and some sported tin foil hats and alien masks. They were reportedly carrying signs such as “Free E.T. from the government.”

According to reports, only five people were arrested after the gathering. Three people were arrested on suspicion of trespassing onto the grounds of Area 51, one was arrested for indecent exposure after urinating near an entrance to the base, and another for an alcohol-related incident. Overall, the commotion behind the whole "lets storm area 51" seems to have fizzled out. 

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Centre of conspiracy theories

The Area 51 US military base has long been the centre of mysteries. It was created during the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union as a testing and development facility for aircraft by the US government. However, the U.S. government did not confirm the base existed until 2013, and hence the secrecy has fueled several rumours. It is rumored that the secretive installation houses government secrets about extraterrestrial life and spaceships. There is a conspiracy theory that says that the US government houses the remnants of a flying saucer and the bodies of its alien crew from a supposed UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947.

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