Algerian Sex Offender Mistakenly Freed from Prison and Re-Arrested
Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old Algerian national, was mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth in south London on 29 October. The incident, captured on camera by Sky News, ended with his re-arrest days later in north London.
Arrest in Finsbury Park
Reporters approached Kaddour-Cherif in Finsbury Park around 11:30 a.m., moments before police detained him. When questioned, he denied his identity, claiming to be someone else. Officers soon confronted him near a police van and took him into custody.
Identification and Police Action
“Distinctive wonky nose,” one officer said, describing how they confirmed Kaddour-Cherif’s identity as the missing prisoner.
Footage showed the suspect speaking loudly to onlookers as he was arrested. An officer compared a photo of Kaddour-Cherif displayed on a phone with the man on scene before making the arrest.
Background and Reporting
The case was reported by national correspondent Tom Parmenter and cameraman Joshua Masters for Sky News.
Author’s summary: The accidental release of Brahim Kaddour-Cherif from Wandsworth prison ended swiftly after his recognition and re-arrest in Finsbury Park, as caught on Sky News footage.