San Francisco Police said Thursday they’re actively monitoring social media for something called "The Slap An Asian Challenge," a rumored trend that’s raised concerns amid a recent wave of anti-Asian violence.
Investigators, however, said they have been unable to substantiate reports of the alleged assault or assaults against elderly Asian victims connected to the "challenge" that were thought to have taken place aboard a Muni bus last Friday.
"We have not located any reports related to this post and we are not able to corroborate claims of a ‘slap’ challenge taking place in the Bay Area," San Francisco Police said in tweet on Thursday. "Out of an abundance of caution, we have shared this information with our partners at SFMTA/Muni as well as law enforcement and transit partners."
KGO’s Dion Lim shared a screenshot of a warning circulating online.
Police went on to say officers assigned to the department’s Field Operations Bureau are able to respond to Muni calls on 24 hours a day, should an issue arise. The team is made up of both uniformed and plainclothes officers "dedicated to investigating crime on Muni vehicles and properties."
The heightened sense of alarm comes during an unprecedented wave of violence against Asian Americans, both in the Bay Area and across the United States. Authorities in the Bay Area have responded to a number of similar incidents in the last week, many with bloody and violent consequences.
Anyone with information is asked to call 415-575-4444 or text TIP411.
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