An MP has described the mistaken release of an asylum seeker from prison as a “staggering” mistake.

Hadush Kebatu had been serving a 12-month sentence at HMP Chelmsford for sexually assaulting a girl and a woman in Epping, Essex, in July.

However, he was incorrectly released on Friday, which led him to take a train towards London rather than being deported as scheduled.

Marie Goldman, the MP for Chelmsford, expressed her disbelief, stating, “I am completely shocked. How could this happen?”

Kebatu’s arrest in July triggered protests outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, where he had resided shortly after arriving in the UK via small boat.

He was sentenced to a year in prison by Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court in September.

A national search is currently underway for the 41-year-old, who claims to be 38, and was last spotted in a grey tracksuit in the city center.

He boarded a train at Chelmsford station at 12:41 BST after what police described as an “error” by the Prison Service.

A representative from the Prison Service stated they are “urgently collaborating” with law enforcement to recapture Kebatu, emphasizing that “public safety is our highest priority.”

Essex Police reported that their search for Kebatu was “progressing rapidly.”

The police force mentioned that officers had dedicated the night to tracking his whereabouts, including reviewing extensive CCTV footage.

They added, “We understand that this situation raises concerns, and we are fully committed to locating and apprehending him swiftly.”

Goldman, a member of the Liberal Democrats, said, “It’s clear that something has gone horrifically wrong, and we need to uncover how this happened.”

She urged for a “thorough and swift” public inquiry into the incident, insisting that Essex Police receive all necessary resources to track down Kebatu.

“We must ensure that this never occurs again in Chelmsford or anywhere else in the country,” she stressed.

“I simply cannot fathom how this could have taken place.”

Kebatu was originally supposed to be transferred to an immigration detention center on Friday to facilitate his deportation.

The destination for his deportation remains uncertain, but under the UK Borders Act 2007, a deportation order is required for foreign nationals convicted of a crime and sentenced to a minimum of 12 months in custody.

Stephen Robinson, the Liberal Democrat leader of Chelmsford City Council, asserted that Kebatu should be found and deported “as soon as possible.”

“This situation is outrageous,” he told BBC Breakfast. “Chelmsford prison predominantly serves as a remand center, so they should be accustomed to managing these processes.”

Kebatu was arrested on July 8 and was mistakenly released 108 days later.

Justice Secretary David Lammy expressed his outrage, stating he was “appalled” and “furious on behalf of the public,” while Sir Keir Starmer labeled the release as “completely unacceptable.”

Neil Hudson, the Conservative MP for Epping, was among the first to advocate for the permanent closure of The Bell Hotel in July.

In response to Kebatu’s erroneous release, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today program, “Accountability must begin at the top, with the justice secretary, the home secretary, and the prime minister.”