Extra Police Presence, But No Credible Threat, At Bethel Schools

BETHEL, CT — The Bethel Police Department stationed extra patrols at Bethel schools today, in response to a TikTok trend encouraging school violence nationwide on Dec. 17.

The officers were stationed "out of an abundance of caution," police said on Facebook, and the Connecticut Intelligence Center has found no credible threat to any Bethel schools — or any schools in Connecticut.

Read more: TikTok December 17 Challenge Has CT Police, Schools On High Alert

"These posts and rumors started on the social media platform TikTok and have been circulating for at least several days across the country, making their way onto additional social media platforms," state police said. "Many law enforcement agencies around the country have received tips related to these rumors."

It's possible the threats originated from a TikTok challenge to skip school on Friday, December 17, 2021, state police said, but morphed into a school violence challenge.