Migrant Mistakenly Freed from Prison Arrested in London After Massive Police Manhunt

A migrant who was accidentally released from prison has been recaptured following an extensive police search.

Hadush Kebatu was arrested by Metropolitan Police officers in the Finsbury Park area of London at around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday. Commander James Conway described the operation as a “diligent and fast-paced investigation,” crediting tips from the public that led officers to the location where Kebatu was found. He confirmed that Kebatu has been detained and will be returned to the custody of the Prison Service.

Kebatu, an Ethiopian national, had been wrongly freed from HMP Chelmsford in Essex on Friday. He was supposed to be transferred to immigration officials for deportation but was mistakenly released instead. The 12-month inmate had served only one month of his sentence for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping. His offences, committed while staying at The Bell Hotel in Epping, had triggered weeks of protests earlier in the year.

The Metropolitan Police led the search effort with assistance from Essex Police and the British Transport Police. Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy confirmed that Kebatu will now be deported, thanking the police for their swift action and announcing a full investigation into the release error. “I have already ordered the immediate strengthening of release checks,” Lammy said in a post on X.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also praised the police response, saying Kebatu would be deported and that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the mistake. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood echoed these sentiments, promising that deportation would take place “as quickly as possible” and thanking the police forces for their “tireless work around the clock.”

Before Kebatu’s arrest, Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the situation as “an egregious failure,” stating that accountability was essential. He confirmed that one prison officer had already been suspended.

A lorry driver named Sim, who was delivering equipment to HMP Chelmsford on Friday, told Sky News he saw a confused Kebatu wandering outside the prison. According to Sim, Kebatu asked where he was supposed to go and even returned to the prison several times but was repeatedly told to leave. He said staff appeared to direct Kebatu toward Chelmsford railway station. Later that day, Kebatu was seen in Chelmsford city centre seeking help before boarding a train to London. His last known sighting before being recaptured was at Dalston CLR James Library in east London on Friday evening.