A terrifying trend has swept across the UK and it is understandably causing safety concerns, especially for children walking to and from school.
It’s been dubbed the ‘killer clown’ craze and it involves people dressing up as clowns, jumping out and scaring people - frighteningly, some reports have said the clowns have been wielding knives or following members of the public.
Some have dismissed the incidents as 'harmless pranks', though we at Closer are baffled to think who could condone the approaching of school children whilst wearing scary, identity-concealing outfits... especially when knives are being carried and people are being followed.
Gloucestershire Police revealed they have received six reports of people dressed as clowns acting suspiciously.
A spokesperson has said:
”The reports have mostly involved clowns carrying knives. In one case a child was followed. Clearly this has scared people and caused real distress.”
"We have attended these incidents as grade 1 emergencies and that limits our ability to attend to other incidents.
"We haven't traced anyone involved as yet as they have disappeared by the time we arrive but anyone we do find will be dealt with appropriately.
"Whether those involved are doing it for a joke or not, this is no laughing matter.
The Mirror reports how children were left 'terrified' and 'in floods of tears' by clowns reportedly scaring pupils outside schools.
A mother wrote on Facebook following a clown incident, “Two of them stood outside my daughter’s school just now, scaring them. They were shouting horrible things to the kids."
The incidents have even seen Stephen King (author and creator of Pennywise) tweet ‘time to cool the clown hysteria' and insisted 'most of em are good [sic]'
**What do you think of the Killer Clown craze? Have you spotted anything similar? Tweet us at @closeronline
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