A Bucks County, Pa. police department says they have traced a threatening Instagram post to a student.
BENSALEM, Pa. -- Bensalem police have charged a 12-year-old student in connection with threats made on an Instagram page that targeted two middle schools, authorities said Wednesday.
The 12-year-old is a student in the district, but police did not identify the suspect's gender. The student is charged with making terroristic threats and harassment - which were approved by the Bucks County District Attorney's Office, police said.
The page - "BENSALEM Clowns" - featured emoji images of a gun, knife, and needle and said, "BENSALEM CLOWN we are coming Shafer and Snyder Tick Tock."
Shafer and Snyder are middle schools in Bensalem.
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"This post caused alarm for many students and parents in the community and led to increased police activity around the schools," police Lt. William McVey said in a Wednesday statement.
The threats were not viable and no students or staff were ever in danger. McVey said. Police, however, will maintain an increased presence at the district's nine schools and properties.
The student also faces school district discipline, McVey said.
Reports of creepy clown sightings, social media pages and purported threats involving clowns have been spreading up and down the East Coast since late August.
Anyone with information about the Bensalem clown threats may call Bensalem police at 215-633-3719.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.