London police have recaptured Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, a 38-year-old Ethiopian national, convicted sex offender, and asylum-seeker whose mistaken release from prison on Friday triggered a nationwide manhunt and reignited fierce debate over the United Kingdom’s immigration and detention policies. Kebatu’s arrest in Finsbury Park, north London, on Sunday morning, ended a tense three-day search that both embarrassed government officials and inflamed already simmering tensions over migration in Britain.
Kebatu’s case first made headlines in September 2025, when he was sentenced to a 12-month prison term for five offenses, including the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl in July at the Bell Hotel in Epping, just outside London. According to Reuters, Kebatu had only recently arrived in England by boat and was staying at the hotel, which the government uses to house asylum-seekers awaiting decisions on their status. His conviction, and the circumstances surrounding it, quickly became a lightning rod for public anger and political debate.
The controversy escalated dramatically on Friday, October 24, when authorities at HMP Chelmsford in Essex mistakenly released Kebatu. British media reported that he was miscategorized as a prisoner eligible for release, rather than as someone who should have been transferred to an immigration detention center ahead of deportation. As the Associated Press reported, the error was discovered around midday, and police were promptly alerted. Kebatu was seen catching a London-bound train, setting off a fast-moving and complex manhunt led by specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police, with support from Essex Police and British Transport Police.
Commander James Conway, who oversaw the operation, told Reuters, “This has been a diligent and fast-paced investigation led by specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police, supported by Essex Police and the British Transport Police. Information from the public led officers to Finsbury Park and following a search, they located Mr Kebatu. He was detained by police, but will be returned to the custody of the Prison Service.”
The search concluded early Sunday morning, October 26, when officers, acting on a tip-off, found Kebatu at a bus stop in Finsbury Park. He was arrested for being unlawfully at large. The Metropolitan Police noted that the arrest was executed without incident, bringing relief to officials who had faced mounting criticism over the blunder.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded swiftly, pledging that Kebatu would be deported as soon as possible. “We have ordered an investigation to establish what went wrong. We must make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Starmer wrote on social media, echoing the sense of urgency and frustration that had gripped both government and public in the wake of the error.
The political fallout was immediate. Justice Secretary David Lammy announced an urgent investigation into the mistaken release and ordered that prisoner release checks be strengthened immediately. “An investigation will find out what went wrong and who was accountable,” Lammy said, according to BBC. Health Secretary Wes Streeting was equally blunt in his assessment, telling Sky News, “This man was behind bars because of serious sex offenses. He is not meant to be in this country. In fact, what was supposed to be happening is he was meant to be transferred for deportation. So the idea that he’s loose on our streets is incredibly serious. It is a serious failure.”
The Prison Service confirmed that a prison officer had been removed from discharge duties pending the outcome of the investigation. Government officials described the mistaken release as an “egregious failure,” and the incident has prompted a broader review of procedures to prevent similar errors in the future.
The Kebatu case has also cast a harsh spotlight on the UK’s handling of unauthorized migration, particularly the use of hotels to house asylum-seekers. The Bell Hotel in Epping, where Kebatu stayed upon arrival, became the epicenter of angry protests during the summer of 2025. Thousands gathered outside the hotel, their demonstrations fueled by outrage over Kebatu’s crimes and broader anxieties about migration. According to the Associated Press, these protests soon spread to other hotels housing migrants, with some demonstrations attended by far-right activists and devolving into disorder. Counterprotests, organized by groups such as Stand Up to Racism, highlighted the deep divisions in British society over immigration policy.
“Kebatu’s case fuelled a wave of anti-migrant demonstrations across the country in August, with some holding protests outside the Bell Hotel – fueled by those on the far-right – which turned violent,” reported CNN. The demonstrations, and the government’s continued reliance on hotels to accommodate migrants, have drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Critics argue that the policy is both expensive and ineffective, exacerbating community tensions and failing to provide adequate support for either migrants or local residents.
The broader context is one of mounting pressure on the UK’s immigration system. More than 36,900 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far in 2025, surpassing the total for the whole of 2024, official figures show. Efforts by authorities in Britain, France, and other countries to crack down on people-smuggling gangs or deter migrants from making the perilous journey have so far met with limited success. The government’s promise to “stop the boats” remains unfulfilled, and the Kebatu episode has only intensified calls for reform.
For many, the incident has become a symbol of systemic failures in both the criminal justice and immigration systems. Supporters of tougher immigration controls point to Kebatu’s release as evidence that the government is not doing enough to protect the public or maintain the integrity of its borders. “The idea that someone convicted of such serious offenses could be released by mistake is simply unacceptable,” said one protester at a recent demonstration in Essex. Others, however, caution against using individual cases to justify sweeping crackdowns, arguing that the vast majority of asylum-seekers pose no threat and are fleeing violence or persecution in their home countries.
As the investigation into Kebatu’s release continues, the government faces renewed scrutiny over its ability to balance public safety, due process, and humanitarian obligations. With tempers flaring and political stakes high, officials are under pressure to deliver answers—and to ensure that such a high-profile blunder is not repeated.
The Kebatu episode has exposed the fragility of systems meant to safeguard both the public and those seeking refuge. It’s a stark reminder that, in the heated debate over immigration, the consequences of bureaucratic failure can be immediate, far-reaching, and deeply personal.
