By Allison Peck
A viral social media trend involving a sinister version of the familiar Cat in the Hat character has made its way to Nebraska, prompting a law enforcement investigation and an increased police presence at a Hitchcock County school.
The Hitchcock County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday it is aware of videos circulating on social media involving the character and lists of people identified as "next victims."
The sheriff's office said it has been investigating the situation and is aware of who made the initial posts.
Authorities said they do not believe there is any imminent threat at this time.
However, deputies were expected to be posted at the Hitchcock County High School Thursday morning as a precaution.
The posts are part of a larger social media trend that has spread rapidly in recent weeks. The trend initially gained attention in the United Kingdom and Ireland, where users began sharing disturbing images and videos depicting a life-sized version of the Cat in the Hat lurking outside homes, looking through windows or appearing in familiar locations.
Many of the images and videos are digitally manipulated or generated using artificial intelligence. Some posts have included names, schools or communities and claimed the character was coming to those locations next. Police agencies in the UK and Ireland have publicly debunked some of the supposed sightings and warned people not to believe or spread the fabricated content.
The trend has since spread to the United States, with schools and law enforcement agencies in several states responding to posts that have referenced specific communities, schools or individuals. Authorities have stressed that while much of the trend began as fictional or horror-themed content, posts naming real people or locations can create legitimate safety concerns.
The Hitchcock County Sheriff's Office is asking the public to be aware of the situation while emphasizing that there is currently no known imminent threat.
The sheriff's office has not released additional details about the individuals involved in the initial postings.