A recent incident involving the Epping attacker has come to light, revealing that upon his release, he attempted to re-enter prison but was denied by guards who directed him to take a train. Hadush Kebatu, who had been imprisoned for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Essex, was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford, triggering a widespread manhunt across the south east of England. The Metropolitan Police, taking charge of the search from Essex Police, has urged the 41-year-old asylum seeker, set for deportation to Ethiopia, to surrender.
A witness, a delivery driver named Sim, recounted the situation outside the prison where Kebatu seemed bewildered, questioning why he had been set free. Despite being guided towards Chelmsford station by guards and instructed to leave, Kebatu lingered outside for about 90 minutes. He expressed confusion to officers and sought help, stating his awareness of his imminent deportation.
Reports indicate that Kebatu possesses funds and has traveled on multiple train journeys in London post-release, likely using money returned to him during his release process. A sighting matching Kebatu’s description was reported on Chelmsford High Street wearing a prison-issued tracksuit and carrying a clear plastic bag of belongings before boarding a train bound for London.
Following his previous conviction for assaulting a woman and a minor, Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized Kebatu’s release as unacceptable, emphasizing the need for his capture and deportation. Commander James Conway of the Metropolitan Police emphasized the urgency of locating Kebatu, highlighting the deployment of specialized units and resources for the manhunt. Kebatu was last seen disembarking a London-bound train at Stratford station, prompting an extensive CCTV review for tracking his movements.
The public is urged to report any sightings or information on Kebatu’s whereabouts immediately to aid in his apprehension.