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”.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.