Social media rumors about a “purge” occurring in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, this weekend gave pause to local authorities.

According to Snopes, the rumor began with a Facebook user named “Timothy James Turner.” The alleged Facebook post announcing a “purge” has since been deleted, but an Alton Sterling fan page created after his death has gained attention for suggestive posts hinting at further retaliation.

(Warning: These images depict brutal violence toward police officers.)

Outrage from the public follows the shooting this week of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, and aftermath of Minnesota resident Philando Castile‘s death, both allegedly at the hands of police. In response, Black Lives Matter protests have erupted throughout the nation.

The Facebook post caused quite a stir on Twitter, with some followers behind the theatrical-inspired plan and others frightened with uncertainty. In the last 24 hours there have been more than 1,250 tweets mentioning Baton Rouge and “the Purge,” according to analytics from Spredfast.

Spredfast

Kiran Chawla of WAFB refutes the viral posts with a message from East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s office, writing off the rumors as a “hoax.”