Killer clown craze: Russian Embassy warns citizens to be on alert in Britain

Russia issues formal warning as 'killer clown' craze sweeps Britain

Harry Cockburn
Wednesday 12 October 2016 23:45 BST
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A spate of 'killer clown' sightings in Florida have raised concerns among parents
A spate of 'killer clown' sightings in Florida have raised concerns among parents

The Russian Embassy has warned its citizens in the UK to “beware” of pranksters dressing as clowns.

The advice follows a spate of incidents in which people dressed in menacing clown outfits have been filmed scaring members of the public.

In an official statement, the Russian authorities said the clowns are causing “fear and bewilderment”.

On its website, the Russian Embassy wrote: “According to British media and law enforcement agencies in recent [days] in different regions of the country in the dark, there are cases of attacks [by] malicious people in clown suits. The purpose of the antics of the British “clowns” - to cause fear and bewilderment.

“We ask citizens in the UK Russia take note of this information.”

On Tuesday, a student at Brunel University was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence after he was seen dressed as a clown and chasing people with a chainsaw on the university’s campus.

There has been a wave of reports of so-called 'killer clown' incidents in London and across the UK over the past week, after the craze took hold in the US in September.

Commander Julian Bennett, lead for the Autumn Nights Campaign for the Met Police, said this week: “We are currently accessing a small number of reported 'killer clown' incidents in London, three of which meet the threshold of a criminal offence.

“Our primary responsibility is identifying and investigating those incidents where a criminal offence has occurred. However, anti-social behaviour can leave people feeling scared, anxious and intimidated and I would urge those who are causing fear and alarm to carefully consider the impact their actions have on others."

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