It started as a joke on Facebook. But suddenly it exploded with over 1.5 million people "signing up" to "storm Area 51" in Nevada "to see them aliens."

Visitors are expected at Area 51 - Photo: Alamy

The Facebook event, called "Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us," says this: "We will all meet up at the Area 51 Alien Center tourist attraction and coordinate our entry. If we naruto run, we can move faster than their bullets. Let’s see them aliens."

The "naruto run," explains The Guardian newspaper, "refers to the particular, oft-memed, ostrich-like sprint of a popular Japanese anime character."

CBS8's I-Team filed this excellent video report about how local residents are preparing for up to a million people invading their neighborhood in the shadow of the secret facility. Not everyone is thrilled. Some who live near Groom Lake are apprehensive.



The US military is also apprehensive, points out The Guardian:

The US Air Force, however, is not amused, with a spokeswoman telling the New York Times “any attempt to illegally access military installations or military training areas is dangerous”. “No trespassing” signs in the area reportedly state that the use of “deadly force” against intruders is authorized.

Even world-famous Area 51 whistle blower Bob Lazar is urging people to stay away and not to invade the top secret facility. He says there are no aliens and no alien technology at Area 51, as reported by AVClub.com.

You might want to just stay at home and watch "Men In Black" on that day.