London Police Investigate Possible Assistance in Daniel Khalife’s Daring Prison Breakout Amid Escalating Manhunt for the Terrorism Suspect

London Police Pursue Escaped Terrorism Suspect Daniel Khalife Investigation

^{Credit: Google | Hm prison wandsworth | Daniel Khalife}

London’s Metropolitan Police are in hot pursuit of terrorism suspect Daniel Khalife, whose daring escape from a London prison has raised significant concerns. Khalife, a 21-year-old former British soldier, had been awaiting trial on terrorism-related charges, including planting fake bombs at an army base and allegedly working for Iran to extract sensitive information from a U.K. Ministry of Defence database.

Daniel Abed Khalife escaped from Wandsworth Prison on Wednesday morning.

Sky's Data and Forensics team explain what his escape route was, and how he managed it👇

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— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 8, 2023

The escape, characterized as “clearly pre-planned” by Met Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley, occurred when Khalife clung to the underside of a delivery truck as it left His Majesty’s Prison Wandsworth. The audacity of the escape has led authorities to consider the possibility of inside assistance, prompting a thorough investigation into whether prison staff or other inmates played a role in facilitating Khalife’s breakout.

The unfolding drama has highlighted the security shortcomings of Wandsworth prison, a “Category B” facility known for housing high-security prisoners. Critics, including Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor, have called for its closure, citing concerns about its suitability.

The search for Khalife has narrowed down to Richmond Park in southwest London, with approximately 150 counter-terrorism officers engaged in the operation. Police helicopters have been circling the park, and vehicles have scoured the area, yet Khalife remains elusive.

Investigators have described Khalife as potentially wearing a white T-shirt, red and white checkered trousers, and brown steel-toe cap boots, possibly still in a prison chef’s uniform, which he wore while working in the prison kitchen. Given his military background, authorities caution that Khalife may possess the skills to evade capture effectively.

Escaped prisoner Daniel Khalife was wearing a chef's uniform when he held on to straps underneath a food lorry after it left the jail on Wednesday morning.

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— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 8, 2023

Despite over 50 public tips offering valuable leads, Khalife’s ability to remain at large has been labeled as a testament to his ingenuity by Dominic Murphy, the counter-terrorism commander for London’s Metropolitan Police. As the manhunt continues, questions about the adequacy of security measures and the involvement of others in Khalife’s escape persist, making this a developing global issue in the realm of politics and security.

This high-stakes pursuit underscores the urgency of capturing Khalife and resolving the myriad questions surrounding his escape, highlighting the critical intersection of national and international security concerns.