Manhunt Underway After Sex Offender Mistakenly Released From HMP Chelmsford

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, a 41-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman, was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford instead of being deported, sparking a major manhunt across London. Kebatu was seen boarding a train from Chelmsford to London, with police alerted 16 minutes after his release, and he was last spotted in the London area, prompting a coordinated search involving Essex Police, Metropolitan Police, and British Transport Police. The error has caused widespread outrage, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling the release "totally unacceptable" and Justice Secretary David Lammy expressing his outrage over the prison system's failure. This is not an isolated incident, as 262 prisoners were released in error in England and Wales in the preceding year, and HMP Chelmsford has previously experienced conspiracies involving fake release orders. Police continue to urge the public to report any sightings of Kebatu immediately, emphasizing the seriousness and urgency of the situation. Authorities remain committed to locating and apprehending Kebatu swiftly to prevent further risk to the public.