Viral TikTok game springs NSW police into action, sends Sydney TAFE campus into lockdown; what do we know so far?

A shocking case has emerged in New South Wales (NSW), where police issued a warning in connection with a popular game that can reportedly be treated like a real threat after a TAFE campus in the region was put into lockdown. The matter came to light after a girl was spotted walking around with a water pistol, according to 9News.

The message came as emergency services were called to Campbelltown TAFE on Tuesday (March 10, 2026), after a 16-year-old girl walked through the campus with a water pistol in her hand that was mistaken for a real gun. Many feared that a shooter was on the loose, but later it turned out to be a teenager playing a viral TikTok game known as "Senior Assassin", 9News reported.

Cops sprung into action

The concern linked to the game was quickly addressed by police in a social media post, saying that it can be treated as a "real threat".

"From a distance, these items can look very real. "If someone reports a firearm to police, then we treat it as a genuine threat, and we respond accordingly," a NSW police officer said in the post, as quoted by 9News. "In that [sic] moment, we don't know it's just a game. "A bit of fun can very quickly become a very serious situation."

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, police are warning the public about stealing and fraud offences targeting the elderly community. Officers across several Police Area Commands have received reports of the incidents, with some victims reporting losses of hundreds of dollars, NSW Police said in a news release.

Incidents have been reported in Newcastle City Police District, Kuring Gai Police Area Command, Northern Beaches Police Area Command, The Hills Police Area Command and Hawkesbury Police Area Command.