Police issue warnings over 'clown craze' sweeping UK

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Source: Press Association

People dressed as clowns have been involved in a spate of incidents across the UK prompting police forces to issue warnings about the so-called 'clown craze' trend.

School children are being targeted on their way to school as part of the "clown craze", also known as "Killer Clown" - a trend that seems to have been inspired by clown-related pranks in the US, police said.

A masked man carrying a knife left a group of children aged 11 and 12 "upset and distressed" when he jumped out on their way to the Hermitage Academy in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, at 8.40am on Friday.

While in Suffolk, a boy "younger than a teenager" was chased by "several people dressed as clowns" in Beatty Road, Sudbury, at 8pm on Thursday, Suffolk Constabulary confirmed.

Read more: http://www.helensburghadvertiser.co.uk/news/14789289.Police_issue_warnings_over__clown_craze__sweeping_UK/

---

[Siwsan]

1. I'm seeing daily 'scary clown' reports in Michigan - none of which are about our Governor

Most are coming from school kids claiming they were chased and/or threatened by clowns, on their way to school and are being deemed as pranks.

I'm worried that this is setting up a scenario where somebody is going to get seriously injured, or worse.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. We have that happening here in the Philly area including

in the 'burbs where one of my sisters lives. The schools are sending notes to parents to try to reassure them and implore the parents to do better monitoring of their kids - many of whom are spreading the "fear" via texting and other child-friendly social media.

There are copy cat pranksters and predators out there now taking advantage of the "fad". Hopefully, at least for the northern sections of the country, winter will reduce this instances of this sort of thing. Just have to get through Halloween.

[Old Vet]

17. Ive been saying that for awhile, But most blow it off as funny pranks........

[snacker]

2. What the hell is wrong with people?

This clown craze disgusts me to no end. Bullies.

[Helen Borg]

3. Must be Brexiter Loons...

[zonkers]

5. I would be chicken to dress as a clown and walk around. Likely get pummeled or shot in some parts.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

26. .

[zonkers]

27. Enough said.

[Coyotl]

6. No, you cannot shoot random clowns.

[kimbutgar]

7. I got an email from the school district I work in to report if I hear any kids

Talking about clown attacks.

There must be some website advocating this. Scaring children and parents is demented.

[MowCowWhoHow III]

8. Infectious

'Killer clowns' in Canada: Why are these sightings spreading?

After a wave of "creepy" clowns were spotted across the United States late this summer, the phenomenon seems to have migrated north to Canada. Why are these sightings spreading?

"Killer clown" sightings have been investigated by local police in Gatineau, Quebec, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton and Bowmanville, Ontario, Toronto, and Ottawa. More reports have spread on Twitter and Facebook.

"I'm having a hard time thinking of anything quite like this phenomenon of evil clowns," says folklorist Prof Timothy Evans.

Since late last summer, "killer clowns" have been spotted from Alabama to Nova Scotia. Schools in Texas and Alabama have shut down, and police have made a handful of arrests - both for people making false reports and for people actually dressing up in clown costumes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-37567132

Clown sightings: Australia police 'won't tolerate' antics

Police in Victoria, south Australia, have warned the public not to engage in "intimidating" behaviour after reports of clowns terrorising people in Melbourne.

Sightings of creepy clowns have sparked minor hysteria across the US since August.

People in clown masks have reportedly chased others and tried to lure children into woods.

Victoria police warned that such escapades would "not be tolerated".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-37586908?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Judi Lynn]

12. Wow! So damned strange. Thanks. n/t

[Marthe48]

9. Seriously uninformed aliens in disguise?

eom

[christx30]

10. There was a video I saw online the other day.

Three men, dressed as clowns, smashing head of mannequin with red paint inside. Four men walking by, clowns started doing their giggly threatening thing. One of the men just calmly walked up to one of the clowns and punched him in the face.
Last I heard, the puncher went home. Clowns were arrested. I don't know for what though.

[murielm99]

23. What worries me is that some idiot

is going to shoot a clown. Or several clowns.

[SansACause]

11. Reminds me a lot of "Satanic Ritual Abuse."

A lot of people had their lives ruined by being accused of child abuse for Satan. It mostly never happened, just was spread via gossip and innuendo. I'm worried that someone is going to get hurt on or around Halloween just for dressing up for fun.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

15. Get off. Big difference between being chased with a knife in real life vs made up fantasy satanism.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

16. Don't be daft. Link to Detroit article

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028211841

[SansACause]

18. Meh. Most of those robberies seem to be the same suspect.

Who wasn't dressed like a clown, but was wearing a clown mask.

Some are not even crimes at all.

Mass hysteria.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

19. Not mass. Some over-wrung concern with reality behind it. Big difference reality

Note that "hysteria" is actually a sexist term. Note the similarity to the term hysterectomy.

For at least 2,000 years of European history until the late 19th century, the term "hysteria" referred to a medical condition thought to be particular to women and caused by disturbances of the uterus (from the Greek ὑστέρα hystera "uterus&quot , such as when a newborn child emerges from the birth canal.

[SansACause]

24. Most of this is truly hysteria, as per the definition.

The South Carolina stuff wasn't even real. Not much else is either. "...until the late 19th century..." being the key phrase. It's not a sexist term; it describes a phenomenon.

Anyway,

Newsweek : http://time.com/4518456/scary-clown-sighting-attack-craze

Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/killer-clowns-inside-the-terrifying-hoax-sweeping-america-w442649

The Atlantic: http://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2016/08/are-the-clown-sightings-in-south-carolina-real/498059/

[Judi Lynn]

13. Truly creepy photo! n/t

[Hassin Bin Sober]

22. At least it's not the Burger King guy.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

14. It's terrorism on a retail scale, but no doubt the victims are terrorized. Make some examples.

Prosecute any caught to the full extent of the law.

Extinguish it.

[Rex]

20. Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right.

[jpak]

21. CLOWN APOCALYPSE!!!111 Damn you Trump

Damn you straight to heck!!!!!1111

[MowCowWhoHow III]

25. Chronicle

https://twitter.com/ClownParanoia