Swedish clown stabs teen

It's the latest in a series of clown sightings sweeping the US and Europe (Getty file)
It's the latest in a series of clown sightings sweeping the US and Europe (Getty file)

The creepy clown craze has spread to Sweden, with a teen stabbed overnight south of Gothenburg.

The 19-year-old had stepped outside for a cigarette when he was attacked by a man in a clown mask, reports BBC News. He suffered minor injuries to his shoulder.

Police using tracker dogs were unable to find the assailant, who was wearing blue jeans, a yellow jacket and a clown mask.

"We do not know what prompted this. It was not a robbery, and I do not know if they had fought before," police spokeman Ulla Brehm told local paper Gotesburgposten.

"It's hard to say if this is something that has to do with the trend that has come from the US, but there was a clown mask at the site."

She said donning a clown mask to terrorise people just isn't funny.

"It is not illegal to dress up, but it is very strange to want to scare people like this. Think of small children who get scared or older people who may suffer more serious ways."

It's the latest in a series of clown sightings sweeping the US and Europe, which has even spread to New Zealand in recent weeks - and showing no signs of slowing down.

Newshub.