Police Launch Manhunt After Foreign Prisoner Mistakenly Released
Police have initiated a manhunt following the accidental release of a foreign prisoner from jail. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy expressed that he is “absolutely outraged” by the incident.
Details of the Incident
Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old Algerian sex offender, was mistakenly freed from HMP Wandsworth in south-west London on October 29. However, the Metropolitan Police were only alerted to the error on the following Tuesday. Kaddour-Cherif was serving a sentence for trespass with intent to steal, and sources confirmed he had previous convictions for indecent exposure.
Previous Similar Release
This incident follows the wrongful release of migrant Hadush Kebatu from HMP Chelmsford on October 24. Kebatu had been imprisoned for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in Epping.
Political Reactions
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Justice Secretary David Lammy, deputising for Sir Keir Starmer who was attending Cop30 in Brazil, declined multiple times to confirm whether any other asylum seekers had been mistakenly released. Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge pressed him for reassurance on this matter.
“I want to ask him a further very important question – can he reassure the House that since Kebatu was released, no other asylum seeking offender has been accidentally let out of prison?”
Deputy Prime Minister Lammy responded without confirmation and criticized the justice system inherited from the Conservatives.
Summary
This situation highlights ongoing issues within the justice system involving the wrongful release of dangerous offenders, prompting urgent calls for accountability and reform.
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