URGENT UPDATE: Police in the United Kingdom have initiated a manhunt following the accidental release of a foreign prisoner from HMP Wandsworth. The 24-year-old Algerian man was mistakenly freed on October 29, 2023, but the error was only reported to the Metropolitan Police today, prompting immediate action.
This alarming incident follows the controversial release of Hadush Kebatu, a migrant sex offender, from HMP Chelmsford on October 24. Kebatu’s wrongful discharge led to weeks of protests and heightened scrutiny over the UK’s justice system.
Authorities confirm that officers are conducting urgent enquiries to locate the Algerian man and return him to custody. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police stated, “Officers are carrying out urgent enquiries in an effort to locate him and return him to custody.” The situation is developing rapidly, and police have urged the public to report any sightings.
Just before this news broke, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy faced intense questioning in the House of Commons regarding the potential for more wrongful releases. When asked whether any additional asylum seekers had been mistakenly freed since Kebatu, Lammy dodged confirmation multiple times, raising further concerns about the integrity of the justice system.
“Let me just remind him that he was a justice minister that allowed our prisons to get to this state in the first place and it’s now for us to fix the mess that we’ve got into,” Lammy stated, highlighting the ongoing political fallout from these incidents.
The urgency surrounding these cases emphasizes the need for immediate reforms in the UK prison system. As the public awaits further updates, the implications of these wrongful releases could have lasting effects on public trust and the government’s handling of asylum policies.
As this story unfolds, all eyes will be on police efforts to recapture the escaped prisoner and on government officials as they address mounting concerns about the state of the justice system. Stay tuned for the latest developments as authorities work to ensure public safety and accountability.
