Daniel Khalife arrested: Terrorism suspect who escaped from Wandsworth Prison apprehended by police

Daniel Khalife has been arrested by Met Police officers in Chiswick, following a manhunt which has been ongoing since Wednesday morning.

21-year-old Khalife, who escaped from Wandsworth Prison on September 6, was apprehended just before 11am today, September 9, the Met has said.

He is currently in police custody.

Officers earlier today announced they were focussing their search on the Chiswick area, following confirmed sightings and intelligence-led reports.

A former soldier, the search for Khalife involved a huge police effort, with 150 officers and staff involved.

He was declared missing at 7.50am on September 6, with the Met notified at 8.15am. It is believed he escaped by hiding beneath a van exiting the prison. The vehicle was stopped in Putney at 8.37am, though Khalife was no longer attached.

His straps were however found underneath, suggesting he used them to make his escape.

Khalife was being held in the prison awaiting trial for allegedly planting fake bombs and gathering information which could be used to prepare an act of terrorism. He denies all of the charges.

Following his escape, Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor said “in an ideal world” Wandsworth Prison should be shut, but the number of inmates means it is forced to remain open.

He told Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge on Sky News: “When you find a prison like Wandsworth, it really needs closing. Ultimately, it’s not a suitable prison.”

Mr Taylor added jails are required “because you need to service the courts. We’ve actually got a crisis at the moment in prisons just in terms of population places.

“So there are only just enough prisons, places available, at the moment for the number of prisoners who are coming in.”

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk told MPs on Thursday an independent investigation will take place into Khalife’s escape. It will consist of two urgent reviews, one on the “placement and categorisation” of inmates in Wandsworth Prison, and the other into all of those in custody charged with terror offences.

Following Khalife’s recapture, a spokesperson for the Met said the force would “like to thank the public and media for their support throughout our investigation to locate Khalife and we will provide a further update on his arrest in due course”.