Chaos as a SECOND migrant is accidentally released from prison: Urgent hunt is launched for Algerian sex offender, 24, freed by mistake from Wandsworth

A manhunt has been launched for an immigrant prisoner mistakenly released from Wandsworth prison.

It is understood that the 24-year-old Algerian convict is in prison for trespassing for theft, but has committed sexual offenses before.

The blunder at the south London prison occurred on October 29, just five days after migrant sex attacker Hadush Kebatu was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford.

It also comes just two days after Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy promised to increase controls on the release of prisoners.

It is unclear why police were only now informed that the Algerian prisoner was on the run.

The Metropolitan Police told the Daily Mail: ‘Shortly after 1pm on Tuesday, November 4, the Met was informed by the Prison Service that a prisoner had been released from HMP Wandsworth in error on Wednesday, October 29.

‘The prisoner is a 24-year-old Algerian man.

‘Officers are carrying out urgent inquiries to locate and detain him.’

Hedush Kebatu was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford instead of being sent to immigration detention center

The news emerged after David Lammy today refused to answer multiple questions from shadow defense secretary James Cartlidge about whether other asylum-seeking criminals had been mistakenly released from prison since Kebatu.

Mr Cartlidge said: ‘People in Epping and up and down the country want to know the answer. I will ask him again.

‘Can that Minister of Justice reassure the House that no other asylum seeker criminals have accidentally been released from prison since Kebatu’s release?’

Deputy Prime Minister Mr Lammy said: ‘I spent 14 years in opposition and did much better than he ever did.

‘ I answered the question. Under their watch the prisons were in disarray. Suicides increased. Prison officer disruption – 20,000 neighborhood police officers lost their lives.

‘We deported more people last year than they did in the last five years. ‘I will not take lessons from the honorable gentleman.’

Addressing Mr Lammy, Mr Cartlidge said: ‘He is the Minister of Justice. He is responsible for the justice system. He needs to take responsibility.

‘And for the avoidance of doubt, I’m going to repeat this one more time because he didn’t answer that twice.

‘Can Kebatu reassure the House that no other asylum seeker criminals have accidentally been released from prison since his release?’

Conservative MP for Brentwood and Ongar, Alex Burghart, reacted to X’s broadcast news

After Kebatu’s mistaken release, a woman carrying a Union Jack protested near The Bell Hotel

Mr Lammy, who replaced Sir Keir Starmer, replied: ‘Careful mate, I know I’m Justice Secretary so I’m in the letterbox.’

‘We know that there have been increases since 2021 under his watch. When did he come to this house and apologize?’

The number of prisoners mistakenly released more than doubled in the year to March, government figures show.

A report by the prison service said 262 inmates were mistakenly released during this period, compared to just 115 inmates by March 2024.

Chelmsford MP Marie Goldman previously said the latest figures showed Kebatu’s accidental release was not an ‘accidental problem’.

‘I don’t know how you can describe it any other way,’ the Liberal Democrat politician said.

‘I’ve said this many times, but I’m confused how this could happen.’

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