Clown sighting near school prompts police checks in northern Italy

A person dressed as the horror clown Pennywise was reported near a primary school in Tarzo, a town in Italy’s Treviso area, late on November 2.

A driver photographed the figure on Via Trevisani nel Mondo and posted the image on social media.

Several people called Italy’s 112 emergency number, and some callers said they had seen two clowns.

Carabinieri searched the area but found no one.

Tarzo’s mayor, Gianangelo Bof, said local officials were checking the situation with police.

It is not clear whether the sighting was real, a prank or a digitally altered image; accounts differ on whether one or two figures were seen.

The photo was removed from the Facebook group where it had appeared, and police are assessing whether further checks are needed.