Police in London have arrested a man who was accidentally released from prison where he was serving time for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
Ethiopian national Hadush Kebatu was jailed for 12 months in September for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl and was wrongly freed from HMP Chelmsford on Friday morning instead of being sent to an immigration detention centre.
Officers found and arrested Kebatu, 38, inside Finsbury Park at around 8.30am after a member of the public spotted him at a nearby bus stop, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Pictures appeared to show him being led away with his hands behind his back by female officers outside the park.
A manhunt was launched on Friday after his accidental release from HMP Chelmsford. He was meant to be sent to an immigration detention centre to be deported, but was freed by mistake.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Kebatu will be deported.
"Officers have worked quickly and diligently to bring him back into custody," the Prime Minister added.
"We have ordered an investigation to establish what went wrong. We must make sure this doesn't happen again."
Kebatu, who had been living at the Bell Hotel in Epping, was jailed for 12 months in September.
He arrived in the UK on a small boat days before the incidents in July and was found guilty of five offences following a three-day trial at Chelmsford and Colchester magistrates' courts in September.
The court heard at his sentencing that it was his "firm wish" to be deported.
It is understood the British Home Office was ready to take him to an immigration removal centre before a planned deportation from the UK.
Britain's Justice Secretary David Lammy said Kebatu will be deported. He said: "Kebatu has been arrested, is now in custody and will be deported.
"Thanks to the Met, Essex and British Transport Police for their swift and thorough work.
"I have already ordered the immediate strengthening of release checks and a full investigation into what went wrong."
Kebatu's case led to protesters and counter-protesters taking to the streets in Epping, Essex, and eventually outside hotels housing asylum seekers across the country.
Commander James Conway, of the Met Police, said: "This has been a diligent and fast-paced investigation led by specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police, supported by Essex Police and the British Transport Police.
"Information from the public led officers to Finsbury Park and following a search, they located Mr Kebatu.
"He was detained by police, but will be returned to the custody of the prison service.
"I am extremely grateful to the public for their support following our appeal, which assisted in locating Mr Kebatu."
A prison officer has been taken off duties to discharge prisoners while an investigation is under way.
A Prison Service spokesman said: "We are urgently working with police to return an offender to custody following a release in error at HMP Chelmsford.
"Public protection is our top priority and we have launched an investigation into this incident."
Aaron Stow, the president of the Criminal Justice Workers' Union (CJWU), said Kebatu's mistaken release is "a profound failure of duty".
