What is Orbeez Challenge? Teens fire gel pellets at school in scary TikTok trend
RADNOR, PENNSYLVANIA: Four teens are facing charges after firing gel pellets at a school as part of a TikTok trend called the 'Orbeez Challenge'. Last week, 25 students and staff members at Radnor Middle School in Pennsylvania were working outside when a car pulled up to the school and allegedly fired gel pellets at the building. Several people were reportedly hit, including at least three students and one faculty member. However, none of them required medical attention.
Radnor Township Police Department identified the four teens allegedly responsible for the attack using surveillance footage. They are facing charges of possessing instruments of a crime, disorderly conduct, harassment, and recklessly endangerment. "There is an indication that this incident could be related to a national social media challenge where the Orbeez water pellets are shot in a "drive-by" method," police said in a statement.
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What is the 'Orbeez Challenge'?
Police said that the attack was inspired by the 'Orbeez Challenge', which is a scary TikTok trend where users film themselves as they surprise people with gel pellet guns. Orbeez is a brand of water-based pellets which are made using superabsorbent polymers. They are often sold as children's toys. The trend is scary since it involves the use of guns and a gun of any kind or a projectile can be used in harmful ways by an inexperienced person or children.
"And that they have seen this on a TikTok type of source where it was a challenge and others go video yourself doing that or have some fun with that very, unfortunately, that was a very bad decision," Radnor Police Superintendent Christopher Flanagan said in a statement, according to Fox 11. "Anybody could confuse what happened with somebody shooting at children at a school, and we know how serious that is so there is no room for that decision at all at any point in time," Flanagan said.
The Ocala police department also put up a post on Facebook warning the public about this trend: "There is a dangerous social media trend called the “Orbeez Challenge” that encourages shooting strangers with “Orbeez” water beads. These beads can cause serious injury when fired from an air-powered gun. In many instances, these air guns are painted to resemble real functioning firearms. Recently, we've responded to several incidents where people were shot by these types of air guns. We encourage parents to discuss the dangers of this type of activity with their children."
Spin Master, the company that creates Orbeez, said that it does not support the trend. It also confirmed that it does not manufacture the toy guns being used in the attacks. "Children's product safety is paramount at Spin Master, and we are committed to providing children and their families with the highest quality toys, games, and activities," the company said. "Spin Master does not manufacture or sell gel guns...Orbeez are designed for educational, creative, and sensory play and are not intended to be used as projectiles or inserted in mechanisms."
Meanwhile, TikTok told Newsweek that the challenge did not originate on the platform. Searches of the platform reportedly showed gel pellets being fired from guns, but most of the videos that featured Orbeez involved in little more than harmless play. Similar incidents have been reported in other cities across the US, including Florida and Georgia. In Peachtree City, Georgia, two 14-year-olds who shot gel pellets at children playing in a park were charged with aggravated assault.