Manhunt under way for Epping asylum seeker accidentally released after sexual assault conviction

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, an Ethiopian asylum seeker convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, Essex, was mistakenly released from prison after serving part of his 12-month sentence. Kebatu was supposed to be transferred to an immigration detention center for deportation but was mistakenly freed, prompting a nationwide manhunt by UK police, with warnings for the public not to approach him. The incident has sparked significant public outrage, including anti-migrant protests near the Bell Hotel, where Kebatu was housed, and has drawn strong reactions from officials such as Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who has ordered an investigation and expressed fury over the error. Local MP Marie Goldman has called for a public inquiry into the circumstances of Kebatu's release, emphasizing the risk to community safety and the importance of enforcing deportation under the UK Borders Act 2007. Additional police resources and surveillance have been deployed in the Epping area, and authorities urge anyone with information to report immediately. The Home Office has launched an internal review, and the case reignites scrutiny of the UK’s asylum housing and offender management systems.