Teenagers warned not to mimic Squid Game’s life-and-death trials

POLICE have warned teenagers not to take part in a real-life version of the Netflix show Squid Game, in which losers are shot with a BB gun.

Adverts are circulating on social media inviting Londoners to take part in a dangerous spin-off contest involving six challenges – including dodge ball, British bulldog, a “crate challenge” and a “free-for-all fight” – with the aim of winning £10,000.

They warn that losers will be “rushed for 10 seconds”, meaning aggressively stampeded towards, and shot in the face with a BB gun. The competition is inspired by Squid Game, a South Korean drama predicted to become Netflix’s most watched series. It features contestants competing in life-and-death games to win £29 million.

The Metropolitan Police has discouraged anyone tempted to take part. It said: “We are aware of a post on social media and are working to find out further details in order to ensure a policing plan is in place.” Many Squid Game episodes contain gruesome scenes.

It revolves around 456 people who are in debt. They are lured into competing in childhood games with brutal consequences – if they lose, they die.

Hwang Dong-hyuk, who directed the series, said he believed the show was popular because “people are attracted by the irony that hopeless grown-ups risk their lives to win a kids’ game”.

Some teachers are so worried that they are warning parents to monitor what their children are watching. One school in Deal, Kent, wrote to parents to say the series is not “age appropriate”.

John Jolly, chief executive of Parentkind, the Parent Teacher Association charity, told “There is a degree of parental guidance given by Netflix and they need to make that decision as a family considering the age of the child. We would advise caution, as well as for parents and schools to talk to each other so that parents can reinforce the school position in the home environment.”

Netflix was contacted for comment.