An Algerian sex offender, mistakenly released from a London prison, was finally recaptured after a dramatic police chase where officers initially ran straight past the fugitive. Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, was re-arrested on Friday following a nine-day manhunt, but not before a critical misstep by searching officers was caught on camera.
The Botched Encounter
Footage obtained by Sky News reveals the extraordinary moment when two police officers, racing through the streets of Finsbury Park in search of the escaped convict, ran directly past a group of men that included Kaddour-Cherif. The officers, seemingly unaware of their target's proximity, continued their search before doubling back, still failing to identify the man standing calmly among others.
The situation took a dramatic turn when Sky News reporter Tom Parmenter engaged with the group. Parmenter appeared to speak directly to Kaddour-Cherif, asking him 'Are you Brahim?' The 24-year-old boldly lied, denying his identity. When the journalist explained police were searching for an escaped prisoner, Kaddour-Cherif brazenly responded: 'I wish you find him.'
The Dramatic Arrest
The fugitive's capture came only after another man in the group whispered to the reporter confirming his identity. This prompted Parmenter to chase after Kaddour-Cherif, who then attempted to misdirect police by claiming the wanted man had cycled away on a lime bicycle. 'I think the guy you are looking for, he went that way with a lime bike,' Kaddour-Cherif claimed, adding that the man had 'stolen' the vehicle.
In a surprising move, Kaddour-Cherif then approached a police van where officers finally identified him. During the arrest, police noted his 'very distinctive wonky nose' while comparing him to his wanted photograph. His backpack was searched, revealing a laptop, umbrella, and wallet.
Broader Prison Security Concerns
This incident marks the second high-profile mistaken release from London prisons in recent weeks. Kaddour-Cherif's wrongful liberation occurred just five days after sex attacker Hadush Kebatu was erroneously freed from HMP Chelmsford. Both men were subsequently apprehended in the Finsbury Park area.
The case has intensified scrutiny of the prison system, with Justice Secretary David Lammy acknowledging inheriting 'a prison system in crisis' and expressing being 'appalled at the rate of releases in error.' Lammy has promised to grip the problem while admitting 'there is a mountain to climb which cannot be done overnight.'
During his arrest, Kaddour-Cherif shouted about British justice, proclaiming: 'Look at the justice of the UK... it's not my f*****g fault, they released me.' He was ultimately arrested for being unlawfully at large and on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker in relation to a previous incident.
