Two Inmates Accidentally Released from London Prison, Police Launch Manhunt

Photo File (Yahoo News UK)

British police have launched an intensive search for two prisoners who were mistakenly released from HM Prison Wandsworth in London, reigniting concerns over the country's prison security system.

According to the BBC, the two inmates — Ibrahim Kaddour Sharif, a 24-year-old Algerian national, and William Smith, aged 35 — were wrongfully freed on October 29 and November 3, respectively. Both men had been serving sentences for separate offenses before their inadvertent release.

The incident follows closely on the heels of another high-profile case involving Hudsh Kibbato, a convicted sex offender who was also mistakenly released just five days earlier, sparking national outrage.

The repeated administrative blunders have drawn sharp criticism toward Justice Secretary David Lammy, who recently pledged to tighten prison release procedures with additional security checks. Opposition lawmakers, particularly from the Conservative Party, have accused Lammy of failing to uphold public safety and neglecting prison oversight.

According to official UK government data, a staggering 262 prisoners were wrongly released between March 2024 and March 2025, representing a 128% increase compared to the previous year.

Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any information about the whereabouts of the two escaped inmates. An internal investigation into the prison’s operational failures is currently underway.