(MENAFN) British officials have initiated a manhunt following the accidental release of a migrant inmate from a London prison, marking the second similar occurrence in just two weeks, according to several media outlets.

The inmate, identified as 24-year-old Algerian national Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, is a registered sex offender who was convicted in November 2024 for "indecent exposure" and sentenced to an 18-month community order, a news agency reported, citing a statement from the Metropolitan Police.

Kaddour-Cherif reportedly arrived in the UK legally on a visitor visa in 2019 but overstayed and is currently in the early stages of deportation proceedings. A media outlet noted that he had been incarcerated for trespass with intent to steal.

Authorities only became aware of his erroneous release on Tuesday, nearly a week after it had occurred. Staff at HMP Wandsworth may have failed to notice his absence from the cell, the news agency reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The event follows closely on the heels of another mistaken release involving migrant sex offender Hadush Kebatu from an Essex prison. Kebatu, an Ethiopian national, had been convicted on two counts of sexual assault against a 14-year-old girl and a woman and sentenced to 12 months in prison in September.

He was re-arrested after nearly three days on the run and subsequently deported from the UK.

News of Kaddour-Cherif’s release triggered intense exchanges in Parliament. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy faced repeated questioning from Conservative MPs but declined to confirm the error.

Shortly after, reports of the incident surfaced, leading Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp to accuse Lammy of “hiding the truth” from MPs and the public.

Following the controversy, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office described the occurrence as “unacceptable” and announced that an investigation would be conducted.

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