YouTuber arrested for throwing poo at Brussels metro passengers

BRUSSELS — Brussels police arrested a young YouTuber who filmed himself throwing buckets containing “diverse substances” including “paint, feces [and] food” at metro travelers in the Belgian capital, the Brussels’ prosecutor’s office said Tuesday.

The unnamed suspect, identified by his initials “Y.D.,” was arrested on January 2 and has confessed, spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office Yasmina Vanoverschelde said in a press release.

He was indicted for assault and battery, and damaging property, Vanoverschelde said.

“Videos of these events were posted on social networks, with the aim of getting as many ‘likes’ as possible,” the spokesperson explained.

The YouTuber, who goes by the alias “YaNike” on social media, has published seven videos over the past few months — all titled “chef’s surprise” — in which he splashes dismayed bystanders with brown mixtures while being filmed by an accomplice.

He sometimes appears with his face uncovered in the clips, which are unavailable to users in Belgium and total a few thousand views each.

According to Sudinfo, one of the YouTuber’s victims filed a complaint against him in November after being showered in a mixture of dog feces and oil while on the metro in Auderghem, a suburb of Brussels. Brussels’ public transportation company STIB also filed a complaint.