Sir Keir Starmer has issued a deportation update after Epping sex attacker Hadush Kebatu was arrested following a 45-hour manhunt conducted by three police forces.

Almost immediately after the Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest, the Prime Minister said: “Hadush Kebatu has been arrested and will be deported.

“Officers have worked quickly and diligently to bring him back into custody.

“We have ordered an investigation to establish what went wrong. We must make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

The Justice Secretary David Lammy issued a similar statement, reiterating that Kebatu will be deported.

He stated: “Kebatu has been arrested, is now in custody and will be deported. Thanks to the Met, Essex and British Transport Police for their swift and thorough work.

“I have already ordered the immediate strengthening of release checks and a full investigation into what went wrong.”

The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood echoed the words of her Cabinet colleagues, stressing that Kebatu “will be deported as quickly as possible”.

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She added: “I would like to thank the Met, Essex and British Transport Police for their tireless work around the clock to hunt down and arrest Hadush Kebatu.”

Kebatu was arrested by Metropolitan Police officers in the Finsbury Park area of London at around 8.30am this morning.

Commander James Conway, who has overseen the operation to find Kebatu, said: “This has been a diligent and fast-paced investigation led by specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police, supported by Essex Police and the British Transport Police.

“Information from the public led officers to Finsbury Park, and following a search, they located Mr Kebatu. He was detained by police, but will be returned to the custody of the Prison Service.

“I am extremely grateful to the public for their support following our appeal, which assisted in locating Mr Kebatu.”

The Ethiopian national was found guilty of five offences after a three-day trial at Chelmsford and Colchester magistrates’ courts in September.

He arrived in the UK on a small boat just days before telling two teenagers he wanted to “have a baby with each of them” and attempted to kiss them, before putting his hand on one of the girls’ thighs and stroking her hair, his trial was told.

The illegal migrant was also found to have sexually assaulted a woman by trying to kiss her, putting his hand on her leg and telling her she was pretty.

The manhunt for Kebatu lasted 45 hours after he boarded a train at Chelmsford Railway Station, catching a train to Stratford, East London.

A delivery driver described Kebatu returning to the prison in a “very confused” state “four or five times”, only to be turned away by prison staff and directed to the railway station.

Members of the public spotted Kebatu in Chelmsford town centre on Friday and at the Dalston CLR James Library in Hackney.

He was seen walking about in his prison uniform, carrying a bag of his belongings.

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