An image of a clown is being projected on the side of Beaver Hill apartments pic.twitter.com/Px2QG4YOaw — The Daily Collegian (@DailyCollegian) October 4, 2016

Reports of creepy clowns at Penn State caused supposed “riots” as mobs of students engaged in “clown hunting” on October 3.

The groups of students – reported to be, minimally, in the hundreds – roamed around the Pennsylvania campus until early in the morning of October 4 after clowns were supposedly spotted at Penn State.

It was the latest bizarre report of supposedly creepy clowns terrorizing communities and campuses. See a list of clown reports from around the country. From South Carolina to Wisconsin, reports of creepy clowns have terrorized people, resulted in arrests, and put schools on lock down.

Penn State Clown Riot pic.twitter.com/B2zwq1RzRs — Clown Sightings (@ClownsSightings) October 4, 2016

Some people called it a clown “riot.”

CLOWNS have caused riots and clown hunting at penn state this is the end pic.twitter.com/5rmRVTBLgT — Emma Karpinski (@Emmakarpinskiii) October 4, 2016

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Hundreds of People Reportedly Chased Clowns Around Penn State

By some reports, there were 1,000 students who joined in the clown hunt. Other reports said hundreds of students were chasing clowns. The official estimate was that 500 students joined in the clown searching mob, said CentreDaily.com.

Word spread that “three clowns” had been seen on campus.

3 Clowns spotted at PSU allegedly. So naturally 6,000 kids mob the streets to hunt it down. I love Penn State pic.twitter.com/P4xYx0nVhs — Addison Carson (@AddiCarson) October 4, 2016

Clowns at penn state wtf pic.twitter.com/wYBjXQ0H8Q — Alex Gaydos (@Alex_Gaydos) October 4, 2016

There were reports that police were shutting down streets because of clown sightings on the Penn State campus. People said part of the campus was on lock down.

Some students posted that people were chasing after supposed clowns with hockey sticks.

HALF THE CAMPUS IS ON LOCKDOWN AND THE OTHER HALF IS A MOB RUNNING AROUND CLOWN HUNTING @PENNSTATE WHAT IS GOING ON — Connor Forjan (@Connor4jan) October 4, 2016

Literally the entire Penn state campus is out looking for a couple clowns that were spotted on campus. Cops are shutting down streets? — Mason (@MasonFlickinger) October 4, 2016

People at Penn State: don't you have midterms and stuff to be studying for? Why are you pretending to be clowns and/or chasing clowns? — Sarah Vasile (@vasilethedeal) October 4, 2016

THE CLOWNS HAVE COME TO PENN STATE. THIS IS NOT OKAY — Jenni Castoe (@Jenni_CATStoe) October 4, 2016

The ‘mob’ grew as more students joined the clown frenzy.

2. Campus Police Said They Don’t Think There Really Were Clowns, Though

At least a thousand continue to gather at Pollock Halls despite police officers reporting of no clowns on campus pic.twitter.com/nGUBD8vyGo — The Daily Collegian (@DailyCollegian) October 4, 2016

The Daily Collegian student newspaper reported that campus police said there were actually no clowns. After all of that.

CentreDaily.com reported that Penn State police Sgt. Mike Nelson said there were no clown sightings or credible clown threat.

“Fortunately, there was no property damage, no injury and no violence,” Nelson said, according to CentreDaily.com. “And there were no sightings.”

He added, according to the news site: “The cause of this specifically was social media,” Nelson said. “If there were any clowns with this many students out there and with our police responding to calls, we would have ran into it.”

Others thought people were looking in the wrong place for campus clowns.

@onwardstate if you really wanna see some alleged Penn State clowns, just walk into a Board of Trustees meeting — Mamboo No. 5 (@killakow) October 4, 2016

Some people couldn’t help but get political. Such is the nature of our times.

Clowns at Penn State? … thanks Obama pic.twitter.com/i8wbozE8XI — Eric Corry (@EricCorry) October 4, 2016

Some people were just hiding out (and exercising a little hyperbole, probably).

There are "killer clowns" at Penn State and I'm stuck in the Collegian fearing for my life… — Sarah Vasile (@vasilethedeal) October 4, 2016

People said there were so many people out “hunting clowns” that it looked like a football game.

3. The Penn State ‘Clown Hunt’ Sparked a Twitter Frenzy

clowns spotted on Penn State campus pic.twitter.com/tOHpX7VKiy — pau pau (@Pauly_Pagliughi) October 4, 2016

The Penn State “clowns” created a Twitter storm, with many people expressing a phobia for clowns of any kind. It was not clear whether anyone at Penn State actually saw a clown, though.

Even the mention of “clowns” freaks some people out.

the clowns are at Penn State……I'm transferring g2g — Dan (@_daniellehoang) October 4, 2016

Hundreds of people were reportedly outside looking for clowns.

Actually it's grown to about 600 people penn state doesn't fuck w/ clowns https://t.co/w6RbC19T6U — ⚡️ (@walternat_OR) October 4, 2016

my snapchat is all my friends from Penn State chasing fuckin clowns — maria (@thatfanofBEAR) October 4, 2016

The most common posts on social media expressed fear of clowns or mocked other people for going outside to look for clowns.

4. Other ‘Creepy Clowns’ Have Caused Scares in Pennsylvania Schools

It wasn’t the first creepy clown report in Pennsylvania. Earlier reports that clown-associated threatening social media posts were targeting K-12 schools in Philadelphia caused concern among authorities.

Penn state: where 1000+ people form a mob and chase clowns at midnight on a Monday night — Dylan Dirkmaat (@DylanDirkmaat) October 4, 2016

There was nothing about potential clowns on the Penn State Twitter page the evening of October 3.

Some people noted the absurdity of college students “rioting” over clown reports.

Psu students rioting and yelling "we are penn state" like the clowns don't care who WE ARE…GO INSIDE. — Adriännä Ridolfi (@adriannaridolfi) October 4, 2016

There are clowns in Penn State now.. byeeee ✌? — Brooke Taylor (@BroookeTaaaylor) October 4, 2016

i literally cant believe we just rioted the clowns at penn state — Dane McGrath (@DMC161155) October 4, 2016

clowns at penn state, apparently rioting in the streets. who said mondays arent lit — timbo (@timmay_11) October 4, 2016

People posted generally grainy videos of the clown panic.

Some people run away from clowns, Penn State runs towards them pic.twitter.com/Y7JNgBeJZo — Bryce Vukovich (@B_Vukovich) October 4, 2016

The one guarantee in all of it: Some people were just having fun. Other people, really, truly, hate clowns.

5. Other College Campuses Around the Country Were Dealing With Their Own ‘Creepy Clown’ Problem

fam group chat started by my brother at merrimack tonight left me asking WHY ARE ARMED CLOWNS SO TRENDY???? pic.twitter.com/PZ3R97CIrP — Kara Dailey (@k_dails) October 4, 2016

Penn State wasn’t the only college campus enduring a creepy clown episode. According to USA Today, police at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts said reports of an armed clown sighting there were a hoax.

There was this report out of UIC Illinois:

they just arrested a clown on my campus. i am livid. pic.twitter.com/xkliyWyY7j — Ilyas Ashar (@ellyorwhatever) October 4, 2016

Clowns were also reported at the University of Dayton on October 2.

All hell has broke loose at UD. One person says there are clowns and 300 are now clown hunting. Looks like the purge on campus. — Lesli (@LesliElizabeth6) October 4, 2016

Clowns on UD campus cops everywhere smh — jared belfort (@JaredKempner) October 3, 2016

Read more about national clown sightings here: