Justice secretary highlights Sky News reporting - as he says migrant release mistake 'totally unacceptable'

Justice Secretary David Lammy has said an exclusive Sky News interview will be used as part of an independent inquiry into how migrant Hadush Kebatu was mistakenly released from prison.

Kebatu, who was found guilty in September of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, was arrested on Sunday morning in London's Finsbury Park after spending more than 70 hours at large.

While the manhunt was ongoing, Sky's national correspondent Tom Parmenter sat down with a delivery driver who spoke to Kebatu at HMP Chelmsford, describing him as being "confused" as he was being guided to the railway station by prison staff.

Follow live updates

Asked if he saw the interview, which also revealed the migrant returned to the prison reception four or five times before leaving the area on a train, Mr Lammy said on Sunday: "I saw the Sky reporting from yesterday and of course, that will be subject to the independent inquiry that must now take place."

He made the comments during a visit to Wood Green Police Station in north London, where he said he wanted to thank officers for apprehending Kebatu.

He called his accidental release from prison on Friday "totally unacceptable" and said Kebatu will be deported back to Ethiopia this coming week.

The incident has sparked questions over how the man - whose crimes sparked protests in Epping over the use of asylum hotels - was able to be freed.

Opposition parties have said that the government has "serious questions" to answer over the incident.

Mr Lammy said he would make a statement in parliament on Monday and a "full investigation into how this happened" will take place.

Police will now question Kebatu "to get to the bottom of what's happened" and to learn what his movements were between his accidental release from prison on Friday and his arrest.

Earlier on Sunday, Sir Keir Starmer said police officers had worked "quickly and diligently to bring him back into custody" and that the government had "ordered an investigation to establish what went wrong".

(c) Sky News 2025: Justice secretary highlights Sky News reporting - as he says migrant release mistake '