German teen in clown mask stabbed after scare; Austrian teen beaten by clown

BERLIN - German police say a teenager’s attempt to frighten a group of young people by wearing a clown mask and brandishing a hammer on a Berlin street turned out very badly.

Berlin police said Tuesday that a 14-year-old responded by pulling a knife and stabbing the clown, only to find that the clown was a 16-year-old acquaintance.

He rendered first aid until emergency medical help could arrive Monday.

The older teen was taken to a hospital. The 14-year-old was released to his parents.

Another clown incident was reported by Austrian police, the APA news agency reported. Police said a 19-year-old was injured after being chased by two people dressed as clowns who jumped from bushes in the town of Schwaz. A third clown joined the chase and attacked the man with a baseball bat.

News media in Europe and America have reported a rash of sightings - some confirmed, some not - of people dressed as clowns and acting in a disturbing manner.

The U.S. Halloween observance, which involves scary costumes and has become more popular in Europe.