A POLICE manhunt for a terror suspect who escaped from prison after "sneaking out of the kitchen and clinging to a delivery van" has continued for its second day.
Ex-soldier and convict Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, escaped HMP Wandsworth, south London, on Wednesday morning.
Khalife was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, red and white chequered trousers, and brown steel-toe cap boots. He is of slim build, has short brown hair, and is around 6ft 2ins tall.
And today, the Telegraph has said it understands Khalife "is suspected of spying for the Iranian regime."
If anyone sees Khalife they are advised not to approach him but to call 999 immediately, quoting reference CAD 1631/06SEP23.
Read our live blog for the latest news and updates...
39 minutes ago By Henry Moore
Khalife on the dock back in February
Khalife, from Beacon Barracks in Stafford, appeared in court on February 7, this year, wearing a black sweater and blue pants and speaking only to confirm his name and date of birth.
His father sat in the public gallery for the five-minute hearing.
Khalife was remanded in jail by Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring to appear at the Old Bailey on February 17.
He said: “You did not enter a plea. These matters are very serious. If you are convicted you are going to face a prison sentence in years not months. Therefore this court’s powers are insufficient.”
Today, 03:00 By Henry Moore
Deep dive into Khalife’s alleged crimes, continued
During a previous court appearance, he was accused of “eliciting” personal information about soldiers from the Ministry of Defence Joint Personnel Administration System.
And he “attempted to elicit information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.”
He has denied all the charges against him.
Today, 02:00 By Henry Moore
Deep dive into Khalife’s alleged crimes
Khalife was being held in prison awaiting trial for terror offences and alleged breaches of the Official Secrets Act.
He was accused of allegedly planting fake bombs at the military base of MOD Stafford.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how he left the devices “with the intention of inducing in another the belief the item was likely to explode or ignite”.
Today, 01:00 By Henry Moore
Contact the police if you have information
If anybody sees Khalife, they are asked not to approach him and to phone 999 immediately, citing reference CAD 1631/06SEP23.
Officers want to hear from anybody who has information that might help them find Khalife, even if it doesn’t pertain to a live sighting.
Today, 00:00 By Henry Moore
Justice Secretary gives timeline of events
Speaking in the Commons yesterday, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk gave a timeline of yesterday's events.
He said: "At approximately 7.30 yesterday morning, a vehicle which had made a delivery to the prison's kitchen left HMP Wandsworth.
"Shortly afterwards, local contingency plans for an unaccounted prisoner were activated and in line with standard procedure the police were informed.
"The prison was put into a state of lockdown while staff attempted to determine Daniel Khalife's whereabouts.
"The vehicle was stopped and searched by police after the alert was raised. Strapping was found underneath the vehicle which appeared to indicate that Daniel Khalife may have held onto the underside of it in order to escape.
"The search is under way. His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service are giving every assistance to the Metropolitan Police's operation to recapture Daniel Khalife and return him to custody.
"As has been made clear by the Metropolitan Police
Today, 23:00 By Henry Moore
Terror suspect escape 'embarrassing' and a 'catastrophic system failure'
A security expert has slammed the process that allowed terror suspect Daniel Khalife to escape from Wandsworth prison.
Professor Ian Acheson, a former head of security at Wandsworth, said Khalife's escape was "at best" a "catastrophic system failure".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "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."
Today, 22:00 By Henry Moore
'No reason to believe' Khalife is dangerous, Police chief claims
The head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, Commander Dominic Murphy, said there is "no reason to believe Khalife poses a threat to the wider public" but has urged people not to approach him and to call 999 if they spot him.
The 21-year-old broke out of HMP Wandsworth at 7.50am on Wednesday by clinging to the underside of a food delivery van.
Khalife is thought to have used makeshift straps to attach himself to the truck as it was waved out of the notorious South West London lock-up.
Today, 21:00 By Henry Moore
Prison officers didn’t tell cops ‘terrorist’ Daniel Khalife was missing for an HOUR as it’s revealed he vanished before
Prison officers did not tell police terror suspect Daniel Khalife had escaped until an hour after his disappearance, it is alleged.
The 21-year-old broke out of HMP Wandsworth at 7.50am on Wednesday by clinging to the underside of a food delivery van.
Khalife is thought to have used makeshift straps to attach himself to the truck as it was waved out of the notorious South West London lock-up.
A prison source told The Times that staff at the Victorian Cat-B slammer realised Khalife was missing at around 7am, almost an hour before cops were alerted.
Today, 20:30 By Henry Moore
Who is Daniel Abed Khalife?
Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, was a former soldier who previously served in the British Army.
In January 2023, Khalife, of Beaconside, Stafford, was charged over two incidents at an RAF base.
Today, 20:00 By Henry Moore
How Khalife escaped
Here is how escaped terror suspect Daniel Khalife is believed to have escaped prison.
Today, 19:30 By Henry Moore
Who to contact
If anybody sees Khalife, they are asked not to approach him and to phone 999 immediately, citing reference CAD 1631/06SEP23.
Officers want to hear from anybody who has information that might help them find Khalife, even if it doesn’t pertain to a live sighting.
Today, 19:00 By Henry Moore
Deep dive into Khalife’s alleged crimes, continued
During a previous court appearance, he was accused of “eliciting” personal information about soldiers from the Ministry of Defence Joint Personnel Administration System.
And he “attempted to elicit information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.”
He has denied all the charges against him.
Today, 18:30 By Henry Moore
Deep dive into Khalife’s alleged crimes
Khalife was being held in prison awaiting trial for terror offences and alleged breaches of the Official Secrets Act.
He was accused of allegedly planting fake bombs at the military base of MOD Stafford.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how he left the devices “with the intention of inducing in another the belief the item was likely to explode or ignite”.
Today, 17:51 By Jimmy Grant
Daniel Khalife cops confirm NO official sightings of escaped ‘terrorist’ as they reveal route of van he used to flee
Cops hunting Daniel Khalife have confirmed that there have been no official sightings of the escaped suspected terrorist.
The Met Police has now revealed the route of the van Khalife used to flee Wandsworth Prison in south London yesterday morning - with 150 officers now chasing him.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
ON THE TRAIL Cops reveal lorry escaped 'terrorist' clung under - with still NO sightings
Today, 17:45 By Jimmy Grant
Met makes public appeal to locate Daniel Khalife
The Metropolitan Police continue to appeal for any information that could lead to locating Daniel Khalife.
Commander Dominic Murphy, who leads the investigation, said: “Since yesterday, over 150 officers and staff have been working around the clock on apprehending Khalife.
"We have issued a nationwide alert that has resulted in increased security at our ports and borders, however currently there have not been any confirmed sightings.
“I recognise and am fully aware of the impact these measures are having on the public. We are working to ensure as minimal disruption as possible.
“It is crucial for the public to help us with this search and to call us immediately if they have any information on the whereabouts of Khalife.”
Today, 17:30 By Jimmy Grant
Khalife’s offences
According to the Met Police, this is the full list of Khalife’s offences:
August 2, 2021, at Beaconside, Stafford, Staffordshire, elicited or attempted to elicit information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, contrary to section 58A of the Terrorism Act 2000. On or before January 2, 2023 at Beaconside, Stafford, Staffordshire, placed an article with the intention of inducing in another a belief that the said article was likely to explode or ignite and thereby cause personal injury or damage to property, contrary to section 51 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.
Today, 17:00 By Jimmy Grant
Prison watchdog rated Wandsworth as 'serious concern'
HMP Wandsworth's performance was rated as a "serious concern", with watchdogs issuing a number of warnings in the past year.
The "serious concern" rating came in the Annual Prison Performance Ratings for 2022/23, which was published in July. It also received the same damning rating in 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19.
It received 46.4% in an overall performance score based on measures including rehabilitation, training and security.
In findings published in January 2022 after an inspection in September 2021, chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor warned: “Staffing shortfalls were preventing the prison from running a decent and predictable regime.
"More than 30% of prison officers were either absent or unable to work their full duties.
"Around a quarter were less than a year in post and more than 10% had resigned in the last 12 months.”
7th Sept 2023, 16:30 By Jimmy Grant
Police confirm video of arrest of man who looks like Daniel Khalife is not the escaped prisoner
The Metropolitan Police confirmed a video released on social media apparently depicting the arrest of Daniel Khalife was not the escaped prisoner.
The man arrested in the Banbury area may have shared a similar appearance with the suspected terrorist, but was not the same man who fled from HMP Wandsworth.
The MET released a statement saying: "We are aware of a man being stopped by police in the Banbury area earlier today.
"We have liaised with colleagues in Thames Valley and confirmed the man in question is not Daniel Khalife."
7th Sept 2023, 16:00 By Jimmy Grant
Notable inmates at Wandsworth
Around 1,300 convicts are at Wandsworth Prison with notable inmates including tennis legend Boris Becker.
Wimbledon champion Becker served time in Wandsworth for fraud before he was released in December last year.
7th Sept 2023, 15:30 By Jimmy Grant
Daniel Khalife accused of collecting information for Iran
Escaped terror suspect Daniel Khalife is facing a number of charges.
Among them is the accusation he may have collected, recorded, communicated or published sensitive information which might have been useful to an enemy in breach of the Official Secrets Act 1911.
It is now reportedly understood that the country in question is Iran.
So far the information remains unclear about how strong the evidence linking him to the country on the crossroads of Central Asia, South Asia, and the Arab states of the Middle East.
Iran can be seen right at the bottom of this map, just to the left of centre.
Credit: Getty
7th Sept 2023, 15:00 By Jimmy Grant
Head of Met’s Counter Terrorism Command's statement
Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said, per the Independent: “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.”
7th Sept 2023, 14:30 By Jimmy Grant
Authorities issue all-ports alert
Authorities in the UK have issued an all ports alert to track down escaped prisoner Daniel Khalife.
The terrorism suspect escaped from HMP Wandsworth prison yesterday.
The security checks are causing massive queues along the M20 near Ashford for the port of Dover.
Credit: PA
Credit: PA
Credit: PA
7th Sept 2023, 14:00 By Henry Moore
Who to contact
If anybody sees Khalife, they are asked not to approach him and to phone 999 immediately, citing reference CAD 1631/06SEP23.
Officers want to hear from anybody who has information that might help them find Khalife, even if it doesn’t pertain to a live sighting.
7th Sept 2023, 13:30 By Henry Moore
Staff shortages 'the source of many problems' at HMP Wandsworth
The chief inspector of prisons has warned staff shortages are "the source of many problems" at HMP Wandsworth following the escape of terror suspect Daniel Khalife.
Charlie Taylor told PA: "Something obviously went wrong in terms of security, and that will come out over time.
"But the issue that we are particularly concerned about is there are too many prisoners in Wandsworth for the amount of staff who are there.
"And that ultimately is the source of many of the problems in the jail."
7th Sept 2023, 13:00 By Henry Moore
Rishi Sunak: Prison escapes are 'extremely rare'
Rishi Sunak insisted prison escapes are "extremely rare" as a manhunt continued for terror suspect Daniel Khalife.
Speaking during a visit to the University of Warwick on why such a suspect was not being held in a Category A prison, the Prime Minister told broadcasters: "First thing I want to say is thankfully these incidences are extremely rare.
"I can't give too many details because there's an ongoing police operation, I hope people will understand that, but I want to reassure people that public safety is, of course, our paramount responsibility.
"The Justice Secretary has initiated already an internal inquiry into the specific circumstances around this particular individual and this case but the most important thing now is for anyone if they have any information at all that they think is relevant to please contact the police."
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