U.K. police hunt for imprisoned asylum-seeker released in error

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LONDON — An asylum seeker sentenced to 12 months in a British prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl was wrongly released on Friday, prompting police to urgently search for the man whose case sparked anti-migrant protests.

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Ethiopian national Hadush Herberslasi Kebatu, who catalyzed a wave of angry anti-migrant protests across the UK over the summer, was mistakenly released from Chelmsford prison ahead of his deportation.

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” by the “completely unacceptable” release of a 38-year-old sex offender.

“Police are working urgently to find him and my government supports them,” Starmer said. “This man should be caught and deported for his crimes.”

Details of how Kebatu was released remain sketchy but Essex Police, north-east London, said they were alerted shortly before 1pm to an “error involving the release of a man this morning”. They said officers were “working to urgently locate and apprehend him” after he was seen boarding a train in Chelmsford.

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The Prison Service launched an investigation and the prison officer was suspended from his duties pending the investigation.

Aaron Stowe, president of the Criminal Justice Union, which represents prison workers, said Kebatu's erroneous release was a “deep dereliction of duty” and a “betrayal of victims, society and the principles of justice.”

Kebatu was found guilty last month of five offenses including sexual assault, inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and harassment.

Kebatu's arrest and prosecution prompted thousands of people to protest outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, northeast London, where he was staying with other newly arrived migrants. Numerous protests followed in other British cities and towns targeting other hotels housing migrants, with some demonstrations involving far-right activists and turning into riots.

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The group Stand Up to Racism also took part in the counter-protests.

Kebatu had arrived in England by boat just over a week before that July day when he was found to have approached a 14-year-old Epping girl, tried to kiss her and put his hand on the girl's thigh. They said he also sexually assaulted a woman from the public who intervened.

Kebatu's lawyer said that after serving his time in prison, he wanted to be deported.

Tensions have long been rising over unauthorized migration, particularly the tens of thousands of migrants crossing the English Channel on overloaded boats to reach Britain, and the Labor government's policy of using hotels to house migrants awaiting a decision on their asylum status. Critics say it costs taxpayers millions of pounds while hotels become hotspots in communities and make migrants feel targeted by locals.

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