A Twitch streamer and at least 11 others were arrested near the Houses of Parliament after waving an imitation gun around during an IRL livestream.
The creator, known online as ‘Krimoe,’ was broadcasting outside Westminster Bridge at 10:50 pm on January 3 when officers suddenly arrived and confronted his group.
Krimoe has built his following through chaotic public streams on Twitch and YouTube. Prior to the arrest, Krimoe had around 50,000 followers on Twitch. He also has 80,000 followers on Instagram and tens of thousands of subscribers on YouTube.
Toy gun stream sparks major police response
During the livestream, Krimoe was seen holding what appeared to be a toy firearm and shouting phrases like “bang, bang, bang,” and “shoot the ops,” while pretending to imitate a rapper from Atlanta.
The prop was passed between different members of the group in full view of traffic moving past them on both sides of the road.
As the broadcast continued rolling, an officer could be heard yelling at the men: “Has someone here got a gun? …No f***ing about.”
Minutes later, several Metropolitan Police vehicles pulled up with lights flashing. Officers surrounded the group and ordered them to put their hands up.
The men complied immediately and were lined up against a railing before being handcuffed and taken into custody.
Under UK law, carrying a realistic imitation firearm in a public place can result in serious penalties. The offense carries a maximum sentence of up to 12 months behind bars.
Twitch streamer banned after toy gun leads to arrest
Police confirmed that as many as 13 people were arrested on suspicion of possession of an imitation firearm in a public place. Reports indicate that a total of at least 11 individuals were detained, though the exact number varied slightly between outlets.
All those arrested were later released under investigation as enquiries continue.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police explained the incident in an official statement.
“Police were called at 10:50 pm on Saturday, January 3 close to Westminster Bridge following reports of a group of men carrying a firearm,” they said.
“Officers attended quickly and arrested [them] on suspicion of possession of an imitation firearm in a public place. They have since been released under investigation as enquiries continue.”
Shortly after being freed, Krimoe revealed that Twitch had banned him for 30 days because of the stunt.
On January 6, Krimoe posted to Instagram to address fans and admit he had made a mistake.
“Fresh home! We all make mistakes. Moving over to YouTube streaming. I’m banned on Twitch,” he wrote.
Krimoe’s post says that it was uploaded from Dubai and features a flight path leaving London for the UAE, so it also appears that he fled the UK after the incident.
