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ISRAELI POLICE SAY they are on the lookout for teenagers in clown masks amid fears the craze could cause violent reactions from those being frightened, with dozens already detained.
“Police operations are continuing in different areas to protect public places and prevent further incidents,” police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP.
He said that about 12 youngsters, including two 14-year-olds, were arrested over the past few days.
A previous police statement said that “dozens of youngsters from all parts of the country were detained for questioning after putting masks on their faces in order to sow fear and panic among the public”.
Rosenfeld said that they sought only to frighten people, not to harm them.
“There haven’t been any attacks. It’s just been people dressed up and walking around with fake axes, fake knives, etcetera,” he said.
Police have, however, warned that such pranks could go horribly wrong in a country where people are constantly on edge for fear of militant attacks and where many carry firearms.
“There is a concern that such pranks will be interpreted as a real threat and will cause harm to the youngsters,” said a statement last week.
It is absolutely forbidden for people to take the law into their own hands and harm wearers of masks.
Local media said that a victim of an incident in the southern city of Beersheba last week stabbed his tormenter, causing moderate injuries.
Police did not confirm the reports.
Media have suggested a link between the phenomenon, which appears to have broken out around the beginning of October, and the 14 September release in Israel of the film of Stephen King’s ‘It’, featuring an evil clown who preys on teenagers.
The plague of scary clowns broke out in the United States last year.
There were sightings in South Carolina of people dressed as clowns trying to lure children into the woods.
The appearances soon spread, with more than 20 states reporting incidents, and although most were pranks or unverified threats, police made a handful of arrests, including for physical attacks.
The craze, fanned through social media, spread to Canada, Europe, South America, and Australia.
The Israeli police advised members of the public confronted by a masked person not to engage with them.
“In these situations, move away from the scene and report it to the police as soon as possible,” the official police Facebook page says.
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Clowns ,,,,,
A few swift boxes to the head
This is no laughing matter.
Where would Gaza kids get clown costumes. 1st world problems.
@Kain Phoenix: In one of the malls in Gaza or are Hama’s lying about it thriving in their own video https://youtu.be/zeRlfcLAUII
@Richard Keogh: Some of those new buildings look quite impressive .
It must be great for the building trade when every 10 years or so , the government militia starts a war with Israel that it can’t win , get’s the sh!t knocked out of the place , and then holds it’s hand out for rebuild money .
@Paddy Hayden: You forgot the bit where they pocket about 30% of said “rebuild money”…
If they jumped out on me I’d give them a red nose.
I hate Clowns ,whoever thinks they are entertaining or humorous must be sick ,there should be a referendum to have them shot or at least banned.
@Brian O Reilly: get a grip its only a costume!
cp:it’s not just a costume,it’s the face paint ,the leering expression,the demonic hair ,the frenetic limb movements ,its horrible I tell you and has to be stopped.
@Brian O Reilly: haha i see they obviously scare you so! Never got the whole creepy clown/ doll type thing i think there more funny. Even the horror films that have them in it i find myself laughing at them thinking how could people find that scary. Everyone to their own i suppose. I know what im dressing up as for halloween with the little fella now! Where abouts do you live again brian? Haha. Creepy clown and creepy mini clown comin too get ya!
@Brian O Reilly: I’m with you, it’s a creepy, sinister costume. Anyone calls to my door at Hallowe’en dressed as one of those gets no sweets!
If there’s a crowd worse than the black an tans, it’s the crowd inside in the circus.
Just do this to them..
https://youtu.be/rssoRv-CPEs
Seriously, why are kids being arrested for dressing up as clowns. This is ridiculous..
To be fair, there’s a good case for KOing clowns on sight.
@Honeybadger197: John Wayne Gacy is reason enough.
New IT looks terrible. TV movie is muck but it was terrifying back in the day.
It’s not kosher.
@Paddy Moretti: It’s McDonald’s lol.
serious stuff all the circuses have had to close
Cue Phaedrus and his kinky BDSM fetish. Some people have no shame.
have your say