TikTok prankster arrested after video of man entering house without permission
A man who filmed himself on TikTok entering people's homes without their permission has been arrested by police.
Scotland Yard said an 18-year-old man from East London was held on suspicion of causing a public nuisance and is currently in police custody.
The teenager was arrested on Monday night after an investigation into social media footage which featured a man appearing to enter a home uninvited.
In the video, which has since been deleted, a man is heard saying: "Walking into random houses, let's go", before he and two other people walked into the home.
He is confronted by a man in the house and asked where the "study group" is being held.
Further videos examined by police included apparently unsolicited approaches made towards members of the pubic in the street or on transport.
The footage was branded "abhorrent" by politicians after it went viral. A TikTok user later defended the videos, claiming the negative reaction was partly down to him being black.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway of the Central East Command Unit, responsible for policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: “I do not underestimate the widespread upset, distress and concern that these videos caused.
"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.”
