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‘Purge Prank’ YouTube video may create unnecessary alarm: Police

SINGAPORE — The police have issued an advisory on the YouTube video called Purge Prank after several reports were lodged against it.

Screen grab from the video by YouTube user MerlionTV, showing a knife-wielding masked man startling a woman.

Screen grab from the video by YouTube user MerlionTV, showing a knife-wielding masked man startling a woman.

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SINGAPORE — The police have issued an advisory on the YouTube video called Purge Prank after several reports were lodged against it.

The two-minute video, uploaded by YouTube user MerlionTV on Oct 20, shows a hooded man wearing a white mask with the word GOD written on it, wielding a knife and using it to scare people at various locations, including a bus stop and a construction site.

The video mimics the Hollywood movie The Purge: Anarchy and includes a sound clip from the film’s trailer announcing a fictitious emergency broadcast message that any and all crimes, including murder, would be legal for 12 continuous hours.

The YouTube clip has received more than 162, 000 views. In its description, MerlionTV said its crew decided to do a similar Purge movie scene in one of the safest countries in the world as Halloween was around the corner.

In a Facebook post yesterday, the police said they have since advised the producer on the possible consequences of staging such pranks, which may generate unnecessary alarm, fear and panic in the community. The police have also advised the public to refrain from such activities.

In response to TODAY’s queries, MerlionTV said the video was the first to be released on its newly-created YouTube channel, which features mainly “comedy materials”. On its plans, it said many projects have been completed and more would be released in the near future.

Police investigations are ongoing. Amanda Lee

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