Hysteria overtook the Bayside Marketplace in Miami, Florida January 1, with reports of a large police response and videos showing supposed “aliens” surfacing in the following days after the incident.

According to the Miami Police department, that night there was a group of almost 50 teenagers causing a riot at the mall. The panic is credited to fireworks set off by the teens and a following brawl which is reported to have occurred. 

Days after the incident, a social media frenzy set apps like TikTok and Instagram abuzz with misinformation and rumors. While most posts on the “aliens” were lighthearted or memes, the rapid spread of misinformation online turned the riot into the somewhat infamous “Miami mall aliens” incident.

The more negative posts related to the incident with harmful theories that were backed up by little to no evidence overpowered the lighthearted ones; however, the Miami police department quickly responded when questioned by NBC on their response to the mall.

“There were no aliens, no airports were closed. Nothing is being withheld from the public,” said Micheal Vega, the police department’s public information officer.

All of this comes after further theories directed towards the police department claiming that their response to the scene was too large for a riot of teenagers, many theorists online are still doubtful despite police reports.

Thankfully, no one was hurt following the incident at the mall. However, the event should serve as an important reminder of how quickly misinformation is able to spread and become the “truth” online.