Daniel Khalife prison escape: Terror suspect breaks out of HMP Wandsworth - what we know so far

Police are hunting for a terror suspect and former soldier who has escaped from Wandsworth Prison while awaiting trial.

Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, of Beaconside, Stafford, was reported to police after escaping from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday morning (September 6).

Khalife was a serving member of the British Army, was charged on January 27 with a number of offences under the Terrorism Act 2000 and the Official Secrets Act. He is accused of planting fake bombs.

The Met Police says detectives believe he escaped from the prison at approximately 7.50am. It is understood he escaped by strapping himself to the bottom of a food delivery van.

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.

Khalife has links to the Kingston area. police say it is believed he most likely remains in the London area, although he may have travelled further afield.

If seen, the public are advised not to approach Khalife and to call 999 immediately, quoting reference CAD 1631/06SEP23.

Met Police manhunt

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.”

Terror and Official Secrets Act charges

Khalife was charged on January 27 with the following offences:

• On 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 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.

Khalife appeared the Old Bailey on July 21, where the following offence was added to his indictment:

• On dates between May 1 2019 and January 6 2022 Daniel Khalife obtained, collected, recorded, published or communicated to any other person, articles, notes, documents or information which were calculated to be or might be or were intended to be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy, contrary to section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911.

He pleaded not guilty to all three offences and Khalife was further remanded in custody and is next due to appear at Woolwich Crown Court on November 13.

Khalife was discharged from the army on May 22.