British authorities say an Ethiopian man who was mistakenly released from prison instead of being deported has been arrested after a nearly three-day manhunt.
Haddush Kebatu, believed to be 38, was sentenced in September to 12 months’ imprisonment for five offences, including the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl, which he committed shortly after arriving in England by small boat.
He was due to be sent to an immigration detention center to be deported when he was accidentally released from Chelmsford prison on Friday.
His arrest earlier this year sparked a wave of angry anti-migrant protests in London and other cities.
What do we know about the rearrest?
Commander James Conway, who was in charge of the operation to find Kebatu, said that Kebatu was found in north London after a “diligent and fast-paced investigation”.
“Acting on information from the public, officers arrived at Finsbury Park and following a search they located Mr Kebtu. He was detained by police but will be returned to the custody of the Prison Service,” he said in a statement.
Britain’s Justice Secretary David Lammy confirmed the arrest.
“Kebatu has been arrested, is now in custody and will be deported,” Lamy said.
“I have already ordered immediate strengthening of the release investigation and a thorough investigation into what went wrong,” he said.
The circumstances surrounding Kebatu’s wrongful release are under investigation.
What was Kebatu convicted for?
Kebatu’s crimes included trying to kiss a teenage girl in Epping, north-east of London, on July 7 and making inappropriate comments to her.
His trial also heard that he tried to kiss a woman a day later and put his hand on her leg while telling her she was beautiful.
During his sentencing hearing the court was told that it was his “firm wish” that he be deported.
Media reports said Kebatu himself was ambivalent about his release, with an eyewitness telling Sky News that he tried to return to prison but was sent back.
anti-immigrant protest
News of Kebatu’s crimes led to weeks of protests in the summer amid rising tensions in Britain over immigration.
Thousands of people protested outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, where he was staying with other newly arrived migrants.
More protests took place at other hotels in other British cities and towns where migrants were staying.
Far-right activists were among the participants in some of the demonstrations, with some rallies becoming disorderly.
There was also a counter protest by the group Stand Up to Racism.
Edited by: Jennifer Cimino Gonzalez