A Jordanian newspaper’s Apr Fools’ Day report chronicling a late-night visit by 10-foot-tall aliens in flying saucers sparked a panic and nearly pushed an evacuation. The Al Ghad paper broadcast a front-page article Apr one about a UFO landing close to the desert city of Jafr. The report declared the UFOs lit up the entire town, interrupted communications and sent alarmed residents streaming into the streets. Jafr’s mayor, Mohammed Mleihan, got punked by the practical joke and claimed he sent security officials looking for the aliens. Scholars did not go to college, their mom and pop were scared and I abandoned the town’s thirteen thousand residents, Mleihan announced.

Folk were shocked that aliens would attack them. He asserted he may sue the daily for its large lie, and asked an apology.

Al Ghad’s handling editor declared, We intended to entertain, not shock people. Orson Welles caused similar hysteria in the US with his infamous 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast.