An Area 51 copycat event urging people to 'storm' an iconic pile of woodchips in Tasmania has been shut down by police for 'encouraging others to break the law'. 

The Facebook event invited people in Tasmania to break into the Port of Burnie on Tasmania's north-west coast and 'Storm the Woodchip Pile'. 

The event is a copycat of a viral call for people to storm Area 51, a highly-classified United States Air Force facility in Nevada.  

More than 1.5 million people clicked attending to the viral event in the US, called 'Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us'. 




An Area 51 copycat event urging people to 'storm' an iconic pile of woodchips (pictured) in Tasmania was shut down by police for 'encouraging others to break the law'





The Facebook event invited people in Tasmania to break into the Port of Burnie on Tasmania's north-west coast and 'Storm the Woodchip Pile'







However, people in Tasmania decided to do an ambush of their own on a pile of woodchips, with more than 1,000 people interested and 500 who said they would attend. 

'The Woodchip Pile is nothing special, it is just a woodchip pile,' the event description said, according to The Advocate. 

'It's worth risking an actual mega bulk fine of $5000 or three years in prison just to get close to it. Hope I see you there.'  




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However, Tasmania Police took to Facebook to discourage people from promoting Facebook events that 'encourage others to break the law'. 

The Officer in Charge of Burnie Division, Inspector Adrian Shadbolt said while it may have been intended as a joke, the content had serious ramifications as it was 'encouraging others to break the law'. 

'While Facebook events may be intended to be a joke, Tasmania Police take proposed actions that encourage law breaking and trespass seriously,' Inspector Shadbolt said.









The event is a copycat of a viral call for people to storm Area 51, a highly classified United States Air Force facility in Nevada (pictured)





More than 1.5 million people clicked attending to the viral event, called 'Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us'. Pictured: An Area 51-related meme

'While this specific event has been deleted, I encourage people to be mindful that the action it promoted is illegal and not to participate.'

'Police will have resources where the event was planned, Dream-Manga which diverts resources from policing activities to keep the community safe.'

'I strongly encourage anyone who has an event or group on Facebook that encourages law breaking to close the event or group immediately.'

The event was created by high school student Alex Harman who said the whole thing was a 'bit of a laugh', and the woodchip pile was chosen because it was 'iconic'.  

The Facebook event has since been deleted, but another joke event has been created called 'Safe and legally approach the woodchip pile'. 




The Facebook event has since been deleted, but another joke event has been created called 'Safe and legally approach the woodchip pile'

'Safe and legally approach the woodchip pile in a non incriminating or aggressive manner, they can't stop all of us,' the description reads.

There are currently more than 1,400 interested and more than 400 people who have clicked attending.

Other joke events and memes have also been made in light of the Storm Area 51 global phenomenon.

Sydneysiders are joining in on the fun with an event called: 'Swim from Sydney to Area 51 cause [I] can't afford plane ticket'. 

'As we all may know, Area 51 has something of ours. That something is very important to us as they could become very useful in our future society,' the description says.

'Help us swim to Area 51 as plane tickets are so expensive, we are hoping to get some volunteers to use as bait. It will be for the best of us.'




The original satirical event has captured worldwide attention in recent days, with memes circling the internet





Fanatics took to social media to share their excitement at the event, with many posting memes and gifs of their hopeful alien interactions

The 'Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us' event is scheduled to take place on September 20 and has attracted millions of alien conspiracy theorists.

The satirical event captured worldwide attention in recent days, with memes circling the internet and local businesses making announcements around the event.

Air Force spokesperson Laura McAndrews said: '[Area 51] is an open training range for the US Air Force, and we would discourage anyone from trying to come into the area where we train American armed forces.

'The US Air Force always stands ready to protect America and its assets.'

Fanatics took to social media to share their excitement at the event, with many posting memes and gifs of their hopeful alien interactions. 

'We will all meet up at the Area 51 Alien Centre tourist attraction and co-ordinate our entry,' the event description reads. 

'If we naruto run, we can move faster than their bullets. Let's see them aliens.' 

The phrase 'Naruto run' refers to anime character Naruto Uzumaki, who is known for a running style that has his body tilted forward and low to the ground while his arms are stretched out behind his back. 

The Area 51 Alien Center is a truck stop on Interstate 95, about an hour's drive from the Nevada Test and Training Range - which contains Area 51.

The last known person who went hunting for aliens at Area 51 was shot dead by guards in January.




'We will all meet up at the Area 51 Alien Centre tourist attraction and co-ordinate our entry,' the event description reads



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Storm Area 51? It's a Joke, but the Air Force Is Concerned - The New York Times