Metropolitan Police Apprehend Terror Suspect Daniel Khalife Three Days Post Prison Escape
Suspected terrorist Daniel Khalife has been arrested on Saturday morning, three days after he escaped from prison, the Metropolitan Police said.
Mr. Khalife, 21, escaped from Wandsworth prison in south London on Wednesday morning.
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“He is currently in police custody,” the update reads. “We thank the public and media for their support with info [and] appeals.”
A former soldier—he was discharged from the British Army in May—Mr. Khalife had been awaiting trial accused of planting a fake bomb at an RAF base in Staffordshire and gathering information that might be useful to terrorists or enemies of the UK.
It has been reported that the former communications soldier was allegedly working for Iran.
The police believe Mr. Khalife escaped on Wednesday from the Category B prison by strapping himself under a food delivery lorry.
It is known the lorry left Wandsworth prison at 7:32 a.m., he was declared missing at 7:50 a.m. and the police were notified at 8:15 a.m., and officers stopped the van in Upper Richmond Road and found strapping underneath.
He was not deemed a threat to the public.
Police officers spent Thursday night searching Richmond Park, which is not far from Wandsworth prison and close to Mr. Khalife’s hometown of Kingston-upon-Thames.
On Friday, more than 150 officers and staff led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command joined the search, and a reward of up to £20,000 was offered for information leading to Mr. Khalife’s arrest.
On Saturday morning, the Met said officers were focusing their efforts in and around the Chiswick area “after intelligence-led activity and some confirmed sightings in that area overnight, including calls from members of the public.”
Chris Summers contributed to this report.
