MADRID (AP) — Spanish police say they have arrested five German women for organizing a flash mob event that sent dozens of people running in the streets of a northeastern tourist resort town, apparently fearing there had been a shooting attack.

A police statement Wednesday said agents were called to Platja D'Aro following reports of shots, which proved to be false.

It said panic spread among people in restaurants and bars Tuesday night when a group of people began running and shouting while pretending to be chasing a famous person.

Police later issued social media messages explaining the incident and clarifying there had been no shooting.

In a flash mob, people gather to perform an action, normally to surprise bystanders.