Teenager arrested after posting videos of himself harassing Orthodox Jews
Bacari Ogarro films himself trespassing in people’s houses, making unsolicited approaches in public and even running away their dogs, before posting the clips online.
An 18-year-old from north London has been arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance after posting videos of himself harassing and jumping over Orthodox Jews to social media sites.
Bacari Ogarro, known as ‘Mizzy’, films himself trespassing in people’s houses, making unsolicited approaches in public, and even running away their dogs, before posting the clips on YouTube and TikTok. He does not limit his “pranks” to Jews.
The teenager was arrested on Monday evening and was remanded in custody, while his social media accounts were taken down and replaced by messages that the accounts breached the site’s code of conduct.
“I do not underestimate the widespread upset, distress and concern that these videos caused,” said Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway of the Central East Command Unit, responsible for policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets.
“Some people have referred to these as ‘prank’ videos, but I hope that this significant development demonstrates just how seriously we have been taking this investigation since this footage began circulating online.
“A number of these videos were produced, impacting on many different people and our investigation remains ongoing as we seek to build a strong picture of both the activity featured in the footage and impact on the public.”
In one video, Ogarro is filmed jumping over an Orthodox Jewish man who is sat waiting for a bus. In others, he films himself pointing out Jewish people on the street.
Among his most troubling, he enters a home through an open front door while a resident, who is not believed to be Jewish, is seen cleaning outside. He then speaks to a male resident and sits down on a sofa briefly before leaving.
The Metropolitan Police cited incidents including “apparently unsolicited approaches made towards members of the public in the street or on transport and entering addresses without the apparent permission of the owners”.
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