Creepy Clown Sightings, Threats Fueling 'Panic' Across Pennsylvania, State Police Say

Authorities in Pennsylvania are addressing the recent "clown panic" throughout the region and the country.

In a Community Awareness Bulletin issued Monday by Pennsylvania State Police in response to the numerous "clown-related" social media threats, authorities encourage residents to notify law enforcement via the toll-free Pennsylvania State Police Terrorism Tip line to report suspicious activity — clown-related or otherwise.

According to state police, there is little evidence that the clown-related threats of violence are legitimate. But that doesn't mean they haven't spooked local residents and school officials.

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Some threats stated that a clown would arrive at the school and "shoot all students and teachers,” while another threat said they “weren’t clowning around," according to information from state police.

Police believe most of the threats are attempts at a joke or "possibly linked to numerous clown sightings throughout the nation and the world."

Reports of "creepy clown" sightings have been all over the media lately. In Pennsylvania, there have been numerous instances of suspicious clown sightings, including a clown that harassed children near a playground and another report of a clown peering through someone's windows.

"Many of these reported clown sightings have little to no evidence establishing their legitimacy, but it is fueling a clown panic throughout the country. Due to the media coverage of clown sightings, many people want to become involved in the phenomenon," state police said.

RELATED: Suspicious Clown Sightings Under Investigation By Pennsylvania State Police

Similar sightings have occurred across the United States, including in New Jersey, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Maryland and beyond.

Arrests have been made in connection with the clown reports and threats. Over the past two weeks, 12 people in several states have been arrested for making false reports, Pennsylvania State Police said.

And in New Jersey on Monday, a teen girl was charged with cyber harassment after making clown-related threats to her classmates, authorities said. Also on Monday, police in Philadelphia say a 13-year-old was behind similar clown-related online threats. In that case, the messages posted on social media threatened school shootings and general violence in Philadelphia.

This is not the first time a clown scare has occurred in America, state police say. In the 1980s, a rash of clown sightings was reported in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, among other states.

State police say they encourage reporting suspicious activity by calling the toll-free Pennsylvania State Police Terrorism Tip line at 888-292-1919 or by email at tips@pa.gov.

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