Urgent manhunt underway for prisoner on the run after 'absconding' from jail for brother's wedding
Sean Middlebrough, a Palestine Action protester, was granted bail by a judge to attend his brother's wedding, but failed to return
Police are searching for a Palestine Action protester who failed to return to HMP Wandsworth after being temporarily released from custody to attend his brother’s wedding.
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Sean Middlebrough, 32, had been held on remand for an attack on an Elbit Systems building.
It is understood Middlebrough was granted bail by a judge to attend the family event — but never came back.
Middlebrough was one of several activists charged in connection with the alleged plan. The group is linked to Palestine Action, which was formally proscribed as a terrorist organisation earlier this year.
A government spokesperson said: "Court decisions are made by judges – independently of government.
"Absconding is a serious criminal offence, and any defendant who commits this crime could face longer behind bars.
"The police are working urgently to recapture this individual, and we urge anyone with information to go to the police."
The incident is the latest embarrassment for the prison system, following a series of mistaken releases in recent weeks.
Among those mistakenly released was Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old Algerian sex offender, who was freed from HMP Wandsworth on 29 October.
He had entered the UK legally but overstayed his visa, with deportation proceedings already underway at the time of his release.
Officials confirmed that he was let out in error and a review into how it happened has since been launched.