Officers from the Met Police have released further information on the whereabouts of migrant sex attacker Hadush Kebatu.
Kebatu was accidentally released from HMP Chelmsford ahead of a planned deportation yesterday morning.
After travelling to London, detectives from the Met Police now believe his last known location to be Dalston, in the Hackney area of the capital.
He was last spotted carrying a bag decorated with cartoon avocados.
Hadush Kebatu at Chelmsford Railway station
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MET POLICE
A Met Police spokesman said: “We continue to carry out extensive enquiries as the manhunt for Hadush Kebatu continues.
“Officers have now confirmed that he was last seen shortly before 8pm on Friday evening in the Dalston area of Hackney.
“He was still wearing his prison-issue grey tracksuit top and bottoms, but is now carrying his belongings in a distinctive white bag with pictures of avocados on it.
“Additional officers have been deployed to the area to carry out further searches, but we are appealing for the help of local residents to report any sightings as soon as possible. Anyone who sees Kebatu should call 999 immediately.”
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu in Dalston on October 24, 2025
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MET POLICE VIA PA
Commander James Conway, of the Metropolitan Police, said Kebatu had made a number of train journeys across the London area.
He added: “We believe he has access to funds, and critically, in both Chelmsford and London, we believe he has sought assistance from members of the public, and has spoken to station staff.”
Mr Conway asked for members of the public who have provided Kebatu with assistance to contact them or anyone who sees him to call 999.
In a direct appeal to Kebatu, he added: “We want to locate you in a safe and controlled way. You had already indicated a desire to return to Ethiopia when speaking to immigration staff, the best outcome for you is to make contact directly with us by either calling 999 or reporting yourself to a police station.”
A delivery driver described seeing Kebatu return to HMP Chelmsford in a “very confused” state “four or five times”, only to be turned away by prison staff and directed to the railway station.
The driver, named only as Sim, told Sky News that he saw Kebatu come out of the prison saying: “Where am I going? What am I doing?”
He said that Kebatu knew that he should be deported but the prison staff were “basically sending him away” and saying to him “Go, you’ve been released, you go.”
The driver said: “He kept scratching his head and saying, ‘where do I go, where do I go?’ The fourth or fifth time (he went into the reception) he was starting to get upset, he was getting stressed.
“I’m not sticking up for the guy, but in my eyes, he was trying to do the right thing. He knew he was getting deported, but he didn’t know where he was going or how he should get there.”
