Migrant Sex Offender Mistakenly Released from Prison Arrested in London

Arrest of Hadush Kebatu

• 🚨 Hadush Kebatu, an asylum seeker from Ethiopia, has been arrested in Finsbury Park, North London, after a two-day manhunt.
• 👮 The Metropolitan Police located Kebatu following information from the public, and he has been detained and will be returned to prison custody.
• 🗓️ Kebatu was mistakenly released on Friday while being transported to a deportation center, having been jailed for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman.

Circumstances of Release and Investigation

• 📍 CCTV footage shows Kebatu in East London on Friday evening, having traveled from Chelmsford prison.
• 🔍 It is unclear exactly how the release occurred, but sources suggest prison staff directed him towards the railway station.
• ⚖️ Justice Secretary David Lammy has ordered a full independent investigation into the release, with additional checks set to be implemented.

Systemic Failures in the Prison System

• 📉 Former prison governors describe the incident as a symptom of a broken system due to underfunding and overstretching.
• ⚠️ Last year, 262 prisoners in England and Wales were wrongfully released, indicating a recurring issue.
• 🏢 The prison service is reportedly overcrowded and understaffed, leading to operational failures.

Political and Public Reaction

• 🗣️ The incident has become a focal point for anti-migrant sentiment, with Kebatu having previously been the subject of protests.
• 📢 The government has welcomed the arrest and congratulated the police, emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency.
• 🏛️ Critics argue that the government may not be in control of the situation, especially given the rise in wrongful releases over the past three years.
• 📍 The MP for Chelmsford expressed relief at the arrest but stressed that the serious mistakes leading to the release are unacceptable and require a rapid national inquiry.