U.S.

Area 51 raid “joke” actually comes to life

By Reporter Alicia Dunn

In recent years, adolescents and teens all over the world have been keeping up a running joke of “raiding” Area 51. Little did they know, the raiding would actually happen.

Currently, kids have been keeping a running joke or trend of raiding Area 51. However, two Dutch teens took it a little too far. Govert Charles Wilhelmus Jacob Sweep and Ties Granzie both got arrested September 8, 2019, for trying to get inside of the Area 51 base. They were visiting the US when they got the “brilliant” idea to try and see if Area 51 is actually as creepy as the internet says.

They were the first people to go to Area 51 and actually go through with the “raid.” However, because of the tension, both boys did not admit to being in on the scheduled raid of September 11th.

On September 10, 2019, Nye County sheriff's deputies responded to a call of to foreign trespassers on the Nevada National Security Site. Even though they stated that they never wanted to participate in the scheduled “raid” they still were arrested and taken to the Nevada Detention Center.

Sweep argued against being in on the raid, “We didn’t have any intention to storm it because we leave one day before the actual storming dates, and we just wanted… to go there,” Sweep told the police.

However, because of all the enraging things online, the police were skeptical and put both teens under arrest. They took them to the Nevada jail to investigate them further. Both teens admitted seeing all of the “No Trespassing” signs, but they still wanted a look at the mysterious Area 51.

When searched by the police, several cameras, a phone, a laptop, and a drone that can record were found to be in their possession. The teens did consent to being searched, however the police found footage of the site and guards on them.

Granzier identified himself as a “YouTuber.” He posts videos on the channel “TIES” on YouTube, whom he shares with Sweep. They have an account that has more than 736,000 subscribers.

If Granzeir and Sweep comply with the conditions of their plea agreement, a “conspiracy to trespass” charge against them will be dismissed.

After this incident happened, 75 people, out of the millions of people who said they'd storm Area 51, arrived the following day. Some came for the joke, others came because they have an other-worldly love for aliens. To point out the vast differences between the people attending, there were protesters next to the people who were wearing aluminum foil hats.

Fellow student of Gloucester High School says,

“It's ridiculous that people would storm a military base.” However, other students are more supporting of the raid. Another student says,

“It was really cool, shout out to that kid who went under the fence and got arrested.”

However, there is the most common third opinion of not caring.

“I dont really give a **** about Area 51.” says a senior at Gloucester High.

In the end, the Area 51 raid will be remembered, as it was out of this world.