Met arrests Epping asylum seeker released from prison by accident

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London’s Metropolitan Police has arrested Hadush Kebatu, the Epping asylum seeker whose accidental release from prison on Friday sparked a manhunt.

The force said in a statement on Sunday that Kebatu was “arrested by Met officers in the Finsbury Park area of London” at about 8.30am.

Kebatu — who was sentenced in September to a year’s imprisonment for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl and a woman — was released from HMP Chelmsford on Friday in an apparent mix-up over his removal to an immigration detention centre.

Commander James Conway, who has overseen the operation to find Kebatu, said on Sunday: “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.”

This is a developing story