Algerian sex offender Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, who was mistakenly released from Wandsworth prison on 29 October, has been arrested following a large-scale manhunt by the Metropolitan Police.
The incident marks another in a series of administrative blunders that have drawn public concern over the handling of inmates in the UK’s correctional system.
According to the Daily Star, police confirmed that Kaddour-Cherif was apprehended at 11:30 (13:30 SAST) today after a member of the public reported a sighting near Capital City College on Blackstock Road in Islington.
Officers detained a man matching his description, who reportedly attempted to deny his identity by claiming, “I’m someone else.”
However, authorities confirmed his identity through physical features, including a “distinctive wonky nose.”
Kaddour-Cherif, who was convicted in November 2024 of indecent exposure, was serving an 18-month community order and was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years.
Following his mistaken release, the Metropolitan Police immediately launched a search operation, warning that he was “unlawfully at large” and believed to have ties to Tower Hamlets and Westminster.
The prison service has described the incident as a “serious operational failure,” while the Home Office has yet to comment on how the error occurred.
The arrest comes after a series of similar cases, including the mistaken release of Ethiopian national Hadush Kebatu from HMP Chelmsford in Essex last month.
Kebatu, who was convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl, was later found in Finsbury Park, sparking public outrage and renewed political debate about immigration and public safety.
Kaddour-Cherif’s release and subsequent arrest have added to growing scrutiny over the UK’s prison management system, particularly concerning foreign nationals.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has ordered an internal review into the handling of inmate releases, while opposition MPs are calling for a parliamentary inquiry into what they describe as “catastrophic administrative failures.”
Kaddour-Cherif remains in police custody and is expected to be returned to prison pending further legal proceedings.
