'Mass Kidnapping' Scare on TikTok Mirrors Horror-Movie Mayhem in 'Weapons' — But Police Say It's a False Alarm
NEED TO KNOW
Viral TikTok videos claimed there was a mass kidnapping event in Virginia
State police say the claims are not true and that they were not investigating such an event
The agency noted that the number of children reported missing in the state was down from the weekly average that week
After multiple social media posts stoked viral fears children were being abducted across Virginia, state police said the rumors were not true.
"Virginia State Police is aware of multiple social media posts raising concerns about missing children across the Commonwealth of Virginia," the agency said. "Virginia State Police is not investigating any reports of mass abductions in Virginia, nor is there evidence of mass abductions occurring in Virginia."
13NewsNow reported that TikTok videos erroneously claimed that there was a "mass kidnapping" in Virginia.
The TikTok frenzy has drawn comparisons to the 2025 horror movie Weapons, in which children go missing, sparking widespread panic and violent chaos.
State police further explained that Virginia reports more missing children on the website for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Kids than any other state.
"According to NCMEC, Virginia is the most proactive in sending cases to their website," state police said in a statement.The agency provided additional context about the number of missing children in Virginia, noting that 88 children were reported missing during the week of Aug. 3 to Aug. 9, the week many of the posts popped up.
Virginia State Police said the total missing children reported that week was down from the 2025 weekly average of 98.
Since the beginning of the year, 3,274 children have been reported missing — the majority of whom are runaways — and only 4% remain missing, according to state police.
Only two AMBER Alerts have been issued by Virginia State Police in 2025, and both children were found.
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