Daniel Khalife — live: Nationwide hunt for terror suspect who escaped Wandsworth prison as airports on alert
A major manhunt is underway for a suspected terrorist who has escaped from a London prison.
Daniel Abed Khalife, a serving British Army soldier, is thought to have used straps to cling on to a food delivery van while wearing a chef’s uniform.
He was reported to the Metropolitan Police this morning after he was reported missing from HMP Wandsworth, where he was being held.
It is believed that he escaped from the Category B prison at 7.50am.
The 21-year-old is being held in prison while awaiting trial for terror charges and Official Secrets Act offences. This includes placing cannisters with wires on a desk at an RAF base in an apparent bomb hoax.
An alert has been sent to all UK ports and airports amid reports of long queues at border control.
Khalife has connections to Kingston and police believe he is “most likely” in London, although he may have travelled further afield.
Key Points
Suspected terrorist escapes from HMP Wandsworth
Khalife held in prison over alleged bomb hoax at RAF base
Airports and ports alerted, says Met
Investigation must consider ‘collusion’, says ex-security chief
09:12 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Prof Ian Acheson, former head of security at Wandsworth Prison, said the government’s investigation must look at possible “collusion” to help Daniel Khalife escape.
Prof Acheson said staff shortages was “clearly must be a contributory factor” to the major security breach.
“So many breaches occurred at one time to allow this awful event to happen.
He added: “If there is an investigation, I would urge [justice secretary] Alex Chalk to make that an independent investigation so the prison service isn’t marking its own homework. But if there is an investigation, it will have to consider whether there is collusion.”
‘Up to 44 per cent of staff unavailable in Wandsworth prison’, former head of security says
08:36 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
A former head of security at Wandsworth Prison said terror suspect Daniel Khalife’s escape was “at best” a “catastrophic system failure”.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Thursday, Professor Ian Acheson said: “Well, at best, this is a catastrophic system failure that actually starts with the allocation of Khalife to Wandsworth and ends with a terror suspect working in a prison kitchen of an establishment in crisis (and) escaping in a vehicle.
“So it’s incredibly embarrassing for the prison service but it’s not entirely surprising given what we know about what’s going on Wandsworth at the moment.”
Professor Acheson, also a former prison governor, criticised the conditions at Wandsworth.
“Well, I’m afraid to say that Wandsworth, like so many of our flagship prisons, is in freefall,” he said.
“You’ve only got to look at the most recent inspections, and other monitoring reports, that reveal it’s filthy, it’s vermin infested, on any day 30-44% of frontline staff are unavailable to work.
“Morale is awful. I mean, frankly, if you cannot even manage to get the bins emptied in a place like Wandsworth what else is going wrong?”
Describing the security around the perimeter of the prison, he said: “The ingress and egress of vehicles into a prison that breach the security perimeter of a prison is a well-known vulnerability. It’s one of the top vulnerabilities you can think of.
“The key thing is, when the van goes back into the airlock, is to make the sure the vehicle is thoroughly searched.”
The professor added any vehicle which exits the prison is normally searched on top and below to ensure no escapees.
What was Khalife wearing when he escaped?
08:08 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Daniel Abed Khalife was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and brown, steel toe-cap boots, the Metropolitan Police said, and is slim and 6ft 2in, with short brown hair.
The jail was put on lockdown after he fled.
The head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, Commander Dominic Murphy, said there was “no reason to believe Khalife poses a threat to the wider public” but urged people not to approach him and to call 999 if they spot him.
Recap: Prisoner still missing from HMP Wandsworth
07:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
If you’re just tuning in this morning, here is a recap:
Police are continuing to hunt for a former soldier accused of terrorism who is believed to have escaped from a prison kitchen by clinging to a delivery van.
Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, went missing in his cook’s uniform from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday, prompting extra security checks at major transport hubs.
There are fears the fugitive - who has been missing since 8am on Wednesday - might be attempting to flee the country.
The Sun reported that a source close to the investigation said Khalife used makeshift straps to tie himself to the underside of a grocery van which then drove him out of the prison.
The Times reported there was a delay of around an hour between prison officials noticing he was missing and contacting the police.
Khalife, who was discharged from the Army in May 2023, was awaiting trial after allegedly planting a fake bomb at an RAF base and gathering information that might be useful to terrorists or enemies of the UK.
He has denied the three charges against him.
Investigation into why Khalife was not in Belmarsh underway
07:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
An investigation into why a former soldier accused of terrorism was not held in a prison with the highest security level is “under way”, science secretary Michelle Donelan has said.
Speaking to Times Radio on Thursday, she said that her understanding was that it was not “black and white” whether a terror suspect should be held in a category A prison, such as Belmarsh.
“So it’s my understanding it’s not as black and white about that as that,” she said. “So there is an investigation checking that he was in the correct facility.
“It’s not as black and white, is my understanding, as to what category somebody under arrest for that those types of crimes should be in.”
Asked if Daniel Khalife had not been held in Belmarsh prison because it was full, she said it was “no secret” that prison capacity was an issue.
“In general, it’s no secret that prison capacity has been an issue, one that we are tackling,” she said. “That’s why we’re investing money to upgrade our prison estate and to increase the number of places by 20,000.”
What was Khalife’s role in the military?
07:36 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Daniel Abed Khalife left school in 2018 and joined the Army.
He was stationed at the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Beacon Barracks, home to the Royal Corps of Signals 1st Signal Brigade; the Defence Electronics Agency, the RAF Joint Helicopter Command’s Tactical Supply Wing and No 22 Group air force cadets.
He was in HMP Wandsworth awaiting trial after allegedly planting a fake bomb at an RAF base and gathering information that might be useful to terrorists or enemies of the UK.
Why wasn’t Daniel Abed Khalife at Belmarsh?
07:16 , Namita Singh
Questions are being raised over why Daniel Abed Khalife was being kept in HMP Wandsworth, medium-security prison. With about 1,300 inmates, it is considered as one of the most overcrowded in the UK.
Most UK terror suspects are lodged in category A prison of HMP Belmarsh.
While no one has ever escaped from Belmarsh, Wandsworth has seen six jailbreaks over the years.
“It is difficult to understand why someone facing those charges is at Wandsworth in the first place,” Informer head of security, Ian Acheson told The Times.
“And even then, why he’s in the kitchen, which is a security risk immediately because it involves handling knives.
“Did they do an effective risk assessment?”
Trial date set for November
07:10 , Namita Singh
Daniel Abed Khalife has been accused of a criminal offence relating to the alleged bomb hoax.
It is claimed that the ex-serviceman placed “three cannisters with wires on a desk in his accommodation” with the intention of inducing in another a belief this was “likely to explode or ignite and thereby cause personal injury or damage to property”.
A trial date has been set for 13 November at Woolwich Crown Court.
Rishi Sunak needs to ‘get a grip on justice’ - Shabana Mahmood
06:50 , Namita Singh
Rishi Sunak needs to “get a grip” on the criminal justice system, Labour’s new shadow justice secretary has said.
Shabana Mahmood told broadcasters on Wednesday: “I think the government has very serious questions to answer.
“We know that the criminal justice system after 13 years of Tory government is in a state of disrepair. We know that there are huge problems with prisons and prison places in particular.
“And as we’ve seen, there is now a terror suspect on the loose having escaped from Wandsworth Prison. So big questions for the government to answer. Frankly Rishi Sunak needs to get a grip.”
She added: “We now have a zombie government who are unable to run vast swathes of the public realm, whether that’s our schools or our criminal justice system.”
Labour demand government ‘urgently’ explain Wandsworth escape
06:30 , Namita Singh
Labour demanded that the government “urgently” explains how terror suspect Daniel Abed Khalife managed to escape HMP Wandsworth.
Newly-appointed shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “The Conservatives need to urgently explain how they can’t do the basic job of keeping potentially dangerous criminals locked up.
“It’s right that the police are given space to recapture this suspect. But Rishi Sunak needs to ensure there is no wider risk because his zombie government lacks grip on the criminal justice system.”
Prison escapes a rare event in recent years
06:10 , Namita Singh
There have been only five prison escapes since 2017, Home Office data has said, and fewer than 20 since 2010.
A 1994 incident involving IRA prisoners breaking out of Whitemoor prison was the last incident to involve terroism inmates.
Wandsworth Prison, from which Khalife escaped, was put on lockdown in the hours after the event but those restrictions have now been lifted.
An escape was previously reported from Wandsworth in 2019.
Who is Daniel Abed Khalife? Inmate facing terror charges who escaped prison ‘clinging to food truck’
05:50 , Namita Singh
A former soldier turned terror suspect, Daniel Abed Khalife is now the subject of a nationwide manhunt after outwitting the guards at a London prison.
He is believed to have escaped in a chef’s outfit by using straps to cling on to a food delivery van, with his current location unknown.
With airports and ports installing additional security measures and holidaymakers reporting delays at border control, his escape has posed serious questions about the suitability of his incarceration at a Category B prison.
Report:
Who is Daniel Abed Khalife? Inmate who escaped prison ‘clinging to food truck’
Knock-on effect of Daniel Abed Khalife’s escape
05:30 , Namita Singh
The escape of Daniel Abed Khalife from Wandsworth prison had a knock-on effect of disrupting court hearings for other defendants on remand at the south London site.
Yesterday murder-accused Earl Morin-Britton, 36, from Sutton, south London, missed his first appearance at the Old Bailey by video link from Wandsworth prison due to the lockdown.
A prison officer told Judge Alexia Durran that there was “an operational emergency and no movement across the establishment”.
Meanwhile passengers at Manchester Airport have been facing delays of about 30 minutes at security as extra passport checks are carried out, the PA news agency understands.
Delays have been reported at the Port of Dover and Gatwick has also confirmed additional security measures are in place.
Justice secretary speaks with prison governor
05:07 , Namita Singh
Justice secretary Alex Chalk has held an urgent call with the prison governor and senior staff in the prison service to seek assurances about what is being done to ensure the jail is secure.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “We are working with the Metropolitan Police to recapture this prisoner and are urgently investigating how he escaped.”
MPCTC requests public to come forward with information on Khalife
04:55 , Namita Singh
Head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, Commander Dominic Murphy, said: “We have a team of officers who are making extensive and urgent inquiries in order to locate and detain Khalife as quickly as possible.
“However, the public can help us as well and should anyone see Khalife, or have any information as to where he might be, then please call 999 immediately.
“I also want to reassure the public that we have no information which indicates, nor any reason to believe that Khalife poses a threat to the wider public, but our advice if you do see him is not to approach him and call 999 straight away.”
What are the accusations against Khalife
04:45 , Namita Singh
Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, is accused of eliciting or trying to elicit information that could be useful for a terrorist on 2 August 2021, and breaching the Official Secrets Act by gathering information that could be useful to an enemy between 1 May 2019 and 6 January 2022.
The ex-serviceman, formerly of Beacon Barracks, Beaconside, Stafford, is also accused of a criminal offence relating to the alleged bomb hoax.
It is claimed that he placed “three cannisters with wires on a desk in his accommodation” with the intention of inducing in another a belief this was “likely to explode or ignite and thereby cause personal injury or damage to property”.
A trial date has been set for 13 November at Woolwich Crown Court.
Terror-accused ex-soldier escapes from prison
04:18 , Namita Singh
A former soldier accused of terrorism has escaped jail from a prison kitchen by clinging on to a delivery van.
Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, went missing in his cook’s uniform from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday shortly before 8am, where he was being held awaiting trial for planting a fake bomb and gathering information that might be useful to terrorists or enemies of the UK.
He has denied the three charges against him.
Mr Khalife’s escape sparked a major police hunt with ports and airports placed on alert and some passengers facing delays as extra checks were carried out.
He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and brown steel-toe-cap boots, the Metropolitan Police said, and is slim and 6ft 2in, with short brown hair.
He made his escape, details of which were first reported in The Sun, while working in the kitchen at the category B prison.
The jail was put on lockdown after he fled.
Wandsworth Prison was ‘chronically understaffed'
01:00 , Holly Evans
The Labour MP for Tooting in south London, which includes Wandsworth Prison, told the BBC that the jail is “chronically understaffed”.
Rosena Allin-Khan’s team said she secured data from the government at the beginning of this year which showed that on one day last December around a third of the shifts that needed covering by prison officers during the day were unfilled.
This was after staff were offered overtime to work extra shifts.
Police helicopters search Kingston
Wednesday 6 September 2023 23:00 , Holly Evans
As the search for Khalife continues into the night, police helicopters have been observed monitoring the Kingston area, the Times reports.
The escaped inmate’s family are known to have had connections in the area.
Several officers have also kept watch on an upstairs flat in Kingston, close to the edge of Richmond Park, where Khalife’s mother and sister are understood to have lived until a few years ago.
Labour has demanded Government “urgently” explain escape
Wednesday 6 September 2023 22:00 , Holly Evans
Labour demanded that the Government “urgently” explains how terror suspect Daniel Abed Khalife managed to escape HMP Wandsworth.
Newly-appointed shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “The Conservatives need to urgently explain how they can’t do the basic job of keeping potentially dangerous criminals locked up.
“It’s right that the police are given space to recapture this suspect. But Rishi Sunak needs to ensure there is no wider risk because his zombie Government lacks grip on the criminal justice system.”
Who is Daniel Khalife?
Wednesday 6 September 2023 20:57 , William Mata
Daniel Abed Khalife is a 21-year-old ex serviceman who has escaped from Wandsworth Prison.
He was part of the British Army’s Royal Corps of Signals and was based at Beacon Barracks in Stafford at the time of his arrest in January.
Khalife was charged with terror and explosives offences related to two incidents in Staffordshire.
The first incident was that he allegedly attempted to elicit information “about an individual who was or had been a member of His Majesty’s forces which was of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism”. He is accused of committing this act in August 2021.
The second was that he that he left canisters with wires with the intent of "inducing in another the belief the item was likely to explode or ignite". These so-called fake bombs were planted at MOD Stafford on January 2.
Khalife pleaded not guilty to both charges in July before the Old Bailey and is due to stand trial.
However, on Wednesday it was reported that he had escaped from the kitchen area of HMP Wandsworth and gained an exit by hanging on to a food delivery van.
Rishi Sunak needs to ‘get a grip on justice’ - Shabana Mahmood
Wednesday 6 September 2023 20:33 , William Mata
Rishi Sunak needs to “get a grip” on the criminal justice system, Labour’s new shadow justice secretary has said.
Shabana Mahmood told broadcasters on Wednesday: “I think the Government has very serious questions to answer.
“We know that the criminal justice system after 13 years of Tory government is in a state of disrepair. We know that there are huge problems with prisons and prison places in particular.
“And as we’ve seen, there is now a terror suspect on the loose having escaped from Wandsworth Prison. So big questions for the Government to answer. Frankly Rishi Sunak needs to get a grip.”
She added: “We now have a zombie Government who are unable to run vast swathes of the public realm, whether that’s our schools or our criminal justice system.”
Shabana Mahmood MP @ShabanaMahmood has been appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Justice. pic.twitter.com/w8nLI8WI22
— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) September 4, 2023
Heathrow Airport ‘operating as normal'
Wednesday 6 September 2023 19:51 , William Mata
There were some queues at Heathrow Airport security on Wednesday, but a statement has said it is “operating as normal”.
Ports and airports in the UK have warned of potential delays as they take additional security checks after the disappearance of Daniel Abed Khalife.
Heathrow tweeted: “Heathrow is operating as normal. However, due to additional security checks being carried out, waiting times for departing passengers may be longer than usual.
“Passengers are advised to arrive no earlier than usually recommended and to the check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport.”
Heathrow is operating as normal. However, due to additional security checks being carried out, waiting times for departing passengers may be longer than usual. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/NX2Hi2Q8jF
— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) September 6, 2023
Met Counter Terrorism Commander appeal
Wednesday 6 September 2023 19:13 , Holly Evans
Dominic Murphy, the Met’s Counter Terrorism Commander, has made urgent public appeal to find Daniel Abed Khalife.
'I am urgently appealing to the public to help us find Daniel Khalife, who could be at large anywhere in the UK'
🎥 Dominic Murphy, the Met's Counter Terrorism Commander, makes urgent public appeal to trace Daniel Khalife who escaped from #Wandsworth prison.
Call 999 if you… pic.twitter.com/PHLuha6rUF— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) September 6, 2023
Passengers at Manchester Airport face delays
Wednesday 6 September 2023 19:02 , Holly Evans
Passengers at Manchester Airport have been facing delays of about 30 minutes at security as extra passport checks are carried out as a result of Daniel Khalife’s escape.
A spokesman for Manchester Airport said: “Our security teams work hard to ensure the safety and security of all at Manchester Airport and carry out important checks set by the UK Government.”
Other airports including Gatwick, Heathrow and Stanstead have also reported delays.
Airports report possible delays due to security checks
Wednesday 6 September 2023 18:45 , William Mata
Extra security checks are in place at airports, which has led to some passengers being delayed.
UK Border Force has set up measures at Glasgow Airport and one passenger to Southampton said a queue took more than one hour, causing him to miss a flight.
Iain tweeted: “Queue didn’t move for an hour. Missed flight to Southampton. Still not through security. ‘Priority security’ not moving either. Additional security checks have been introduced due to an ongoing national incident.”
1st photos taken at 1250. Queue didn’t move for an hour. Missed flight to Southampton. Still not through security. ‘Priority security’ not moving either. “Additional security checks have been introduced due to an ongoing National incident” @Glasgow_Live @GLA_Airport @FlyLoganair pic.twitter.com/L22GvIJDqP
— Iain Mac a'Phì (@EEN_EEN_EEN) September 6, 2023
Met Police says manhunt is UK-wide
Wednesday 6 September 2023 18:26 , Katy Clifton
Khalife has links to north-west England and Kingston in London, but head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, Commander Dominic Murphy, said the manhunt is covering the whole of the UK.
He said: “We have a team of officers who are making extensive and urgent inquiries in order to locate and detain Khalife as quickly as possible.
“However, the public can help us as well and should anyone see Khalife, or have any information as to where he might be, then please call 999 immediately.
“I also want to reassure the public that we have no information which indicates, nor any reason to believe that Khalife poses a threat to the wider public, but our advice if you do see him is not to approach him and call 999 straight away.”
Wandsworth is the second most secure category of prison
Wednesday 6 September 2023 18:10 , William Mata
HMP Wandsworth has five wing units leading to a central hub with courtyards and other buildings around the outside.
It is a category B prison, the second highest level of security.
Justice secretary Alex Chalk has held an urgent call with the prison governor and senior staff in the prison service to seek assurances about what is being done to ensure the jail is secure.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “We are working with the Metropolitan Police to recapture this prisoner and are urgently investigating how he escaped.”
What we know about Daniel Abed Khalife
Wednesday 6 September 2023 17:58 , William Mata
Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, was awaiting trial at HMP Wandsworth when he escaped on Wednesday.
The former soldier is accused of leaving fake bombs at the Beacon Barracks base, otherwise known as MOD Stafford, where he left on January 2 after the alleged hoax. He was arrested on January 26.
As of Wednesday, he was awaiting trial in relation to terrorism and Official Secrets Act offences.
He is 6ft 2ins tall and was last seen wearing a prison-issue chef's uniform of a white t-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and brown steel toe cap boots, having been working in the kitchen.
Police have said he has links to Kingston upon Thames but also the north west of England.
London Gatwick Airport confirms additional security measures
Wednesday 6 September 2023 17:48 , William Mata
Additional security measures are in place at all UK airports and ports - including Gatwick.
The London airport has said “safety and security” is its number one concern.
A London Gatwick spokesperson said: “Additional security measures are currently in place at London Gatwick and other UK airports and ports.
“The safety and security of passengers is our number one priority.”
Prison escapes a rare event in recent years
Wednesday 6 September 2023 17:46 , William Mata
There have been only five prison escapes since 2017, Home Office data has said, and fewer than 20 since 2010.
A 1994 incident involving IRA prisoners breaking out of Whitemoor prison was the last incident to involve terroism inmates.
Wandsworth Prison, from which Khalife escaped, was put on lockdown in the hours after the event but those restrictions have now been lifted.
An escape was previously reported from Wandsworth in 2019.
Delays to the Port of Dover possible as a result of increased checks
Wednesday 6 September 2023 17:36 , William Mata
Enhanced checks are currently being enforced in Dover and other UK ports as a result of the manhunt.
The Port of Dover tweeted to say that these measures could result in delays in getting to the port.
“Our standard travel guidance remains unchanged,” a message read.
— Port of Dover Travel (@PoD_travelnews) September 6, 2023
Khalife had been discharged from the Army in May says Ministry of Defence
Wednesday 6 September 2023 17:32 , William Mata
The Ministry of Defence has said that Khalife was discharged from the Army in May this year.
A spokesperson said the 21-year-old was a “former soldier” and was charged with terrorism and other offences.
The statement added: “As a result of being held on remand for these charges, Daniel Khalife was discharged from the Army on 22 May 2023.”
Trial date had been set for November
Wednesday 6 September 2023 17:29 , William Mata
Khalife has been accused of a criminal offence relating to the alleged bomb hoax.
It is claimed that the serviceman placed “three cannisters with wires on a desk in his accommodation” with the intention of inducing in another a belief this was “likely to explode or ignite and thereby cause personal injury or damage to property”.
A trial date has been set for November 13 at Woolwich Crown Court.
Khalife was wearing chef’s uniform during escape
Wednesday 6 September 2023 17:17 , Holly Evans
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk is due to speak to the governor of HMP Wandsworth and senior prison bosses after a suspected terrorist soldier went on the run from the jail sparking an urgent police hunt, the PA news agency understands.
The south-west London prison was put on lockdown on Wednesday morning after Daniel Abed Khalife escaped but restrictions have now been lifted.
It is understood the 21-year-old had been working in the kitchen and was wearing a chef’s uniform.
He is thought to have snuck out of the kitchen and clung onto the bottom of a delivery van to make his escape.
Prisoner escaped ‘under a food truck’
Wednesday 6 September 2023 17:04 , Holly Evans
Daniel Khalife is believed to have escaped from the Category B prison “under a food truck”.
He is alleged to have used straps to hold on to the bottom as the vehicle exited the prison.
Labour demand Government ‘urgently’ explain Wandsworth escape
Wednesday 6 September 2023 17:02 , Holly Evans
Labour demanded that the Government “urgently” explains how terror suspect Daniel Abed Khalife managed to escape HMP Wandsworth.
Newly-appointed shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “The Conservatives need to urgently explain how they can’t do the basic job of keeping potentially dangerous criminals locked up.
“It’s right that the police are given space to recapture this suspect. But Rishi Sunak needs to ensure there is no wider risk because his zombie Government lacks grip on the criminal justice system.”
Alert issued to all UK airports and ports
Wednesday 6 September 2023 17:00 , Holly Evans
In a new statement, the Met said that an alert had been sent to all UK airports and ports amid reports of longer queues at Border Control.
“An alert was issued by the Counter Terrorism Command earlier today in relation to Khalife through established operational briefing channels to relevant UK police and law enforcement agencies, including those at UK ports and borders,” the force said.
Khalife held in prison over alleged bomb hoax at RAF base
Wednesday 6 September 2023 16:55 , Holly Evans
Khalife was being held on remand after allegedly orchestrating a bomb hoax at an RAF base.
It is claimed that he placed “three cannisters with wires on a desk in his accommodation” with the intention of inducing in another a belief this was “likely to explode or ignite and thereby cause personal injury or damage to property”.
He is also accused of eliciting or trying to elicit information that could be useful for a terrorist on August 2 2021, and breaching the Official Secrets Act by gathering information that could be useful to an enemy between May 1 2019 and January 6 2022.
He denied all charges during an appearance at the Old Bailey and is due to face trial on 13 November.
Escape had knock-on effect at the Old Bailey
Wednesday 6 September 2023 16:48 , Holly Evans
The escape from Wandsworth prison had a knock-on effect of disrupting court hearings for other defendants on remand at the south London site.
On Wednesday morning, murder-accused Earl Morin-Britton, 36, from Sutton, south London, missed his first appearance at the Old Bailey by video link from Wandsworth prison due to the lockdown.
Judge Alexia Durran asked a prison officer on a video call to explain the problem.
The officer said: “We have got an operational emergency and no movement across the establishment.
“No bodies are being moved due to the severity of the matter.
“A lot of appearances in court will be delayed.”
Full statement from Met’s Counter Terrorism Command
Wednesday 6 September 2023 16:42 , Holly Evans
Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: “We have a team of officers who are making extensive and urgent enquiries in order to locate and detain Khalife as quickly as possible.
“However, the public can help us as well and should anyone see Khalife, or have any information as to where he might be, then please call 999 or the immediately.
“I also want to reassure the public that we have no information which indicates, nor any reason to believe that Khalife poses a threat to the wider public, but our advice if you do see him is not to approach him and call 999 straight away.”
Khalife is ‘most likely’ in London, say police
Wednesday 6 September 2023 16:36 , Holly Evans
The Metropolitan Police have said they believe it is “most likely” that Khalife is in London, although he may have travelled further afield.
He has connections to the Kingston area.
The 21-year-old was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and brown steel toe cap boots.
Police describe him as being of slim build, with short brown hair and is around 6ft 2ins tall.
Suspected terrorist escaped from HMP Wandsworth
Wednesday 6 September 2023 16:29 , Holly Evans
Daniel Abed Khalife, a suspected terrorist and a British Army soldier, escaped from prison earlier this morning and is at the centre of a major manhunt.
The Metropolitan Police believe that he escaped from HMP Wandsworth at 7.50am.
He was being held at the Category B prison while awaiting trial for charges in relation to terrorism and Official Secrets Act.
Welcome to our live coverage
Wednesday 6 September 2023 16:22 , Holly Evans
Welcome to our live coverage of this breaking news story.
We’ll be bringing you updates as police launch a major manhunt for suspected terrorist Daniel Khalife, who escaped from HMP Wandsworth this morning.
Khalife had been discharged from the British Army
Wednesday 6 September 2023 21:57 , Holly Evans
The Ministry of Defence has said that Khalife was discharged from the Army in May this year.
A spokesperson said the 21-year-old was a “former soldier” and was charged with terrorism and other offences.
The statement added: “As a result of being held on remand for these charges, Daniel Khalife was discharged from the Army on 22 May 2023.”
Port of Dover experience ‘some delays’ due to heightened security
Wednesday 6 September 2023 21:55 , Holly Evans
Delays have been reported at the Port of Dover as enhanced checks are carried out after a suspected terrorist former soldier went on the run from prison, sparking an urgent police hunt.
Port of Dover Travel posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying: “Due to a police matter, there are currently enhanced checks on outbound traffic at the Port of Dover and other portals within the UK.
“Please be advised this is currently resulting in some delays at the port.
“However, our standard travel guidance remains unchanged and we will keep passengers updated if they can expect any alteration to their journey.”
— Port of Dover Travel (@PoD_travelnews) September 6, 2023
Escape had knock-on effect at the Old Bailey
Wednesday 6 September 2023 21:50 , Holly Evans
The escape from Wandsworth prison impacted court hearings for other defendants on remand at the Old Bailey
On Wednesday morning, murder-accused Earl Morin-Britton, 36, from Sutton, south London, missed his first appearance at the Old Bailey by video link from Wandsworth prison due to the lockdown.
Judge Alexia Durran asked a prison officer on a video call to explain the problem.
The officer said: “We have got an operational emergency and no movement across the establishment.
“No bodies are being moved due to the severity of the matter.
“A lot of appearances in court will be delayed.”
