A terror suspect who managed to escape from HMP Wandsworth has been apprehended after evading authorities for 75 hours. In a dramatic turn of events, a plain-clothes police officer intercepted the escapee, Daniel Khalife, on a canal towpath in Greenford, west London, at approximately 10:40 AM this morning.
At the time of his arrest, Khalife was captured on the ground, handcuffed, with his bicycle, sleeping bag, and a Waitrose cool bag nearby. He is currently in custody at a police station in west London.
Khalife’s escape began when he went missing from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday. On the same day, sightings of him walking toward Wandsworth town center were reported. The search for him extended to Chiswick, where he was further sighted on Friday night. Authorities also conducted searches in Richmond Park, close to the category B prison.
Metropolitan Police commander Dominic Murphy commended the extensive and challenging search effort, characterizing Khalife as a “resourceful” prisoner. The public played a crucial role in the operation, with over 100 calls providing valuable information.
The arresting officer, in plain clothes, recognized Khalife while he was cycling past, leading to the successful apprehension.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his satisfaction with Khalife’s arrest and praised both the police and the public for their diligent efforts in locating him.
In their pursuit of Khalife, the police had offered a £20,000 reward for information leading to his capture. Khalife’s family had also urged him to surrender before the weekend.
Over 150 counterterrorism officers participated in the nationwide manhunt, prompting heightened security measures at UK ports and airports.
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk announced an independent inquiry into Khalife’s escape on Thursday. Khalife, a former member of the Royal Signals based at Beacon Barracks in Stafford, was on remand, facing charges related to leaving fake bombs at a military base, a Terrorism Act violation, and an Official Secrets Act offense for allegedly committing acts detrimental to the state’s safety or interests. He had been discharged from the army in May and had denied both charges in a court appearance via video link in July.
