Amid speculation and rising concern, a nationwide search has intensified for a 21-year-old ex-serviceman, Daniel Abed Khalife, known to law enforcement for terror offences, who managed a daring escape from Wandsworth Prison early on Wednesday.
The suspect is known to have left falsified explosive devices at a military base. He skillfully made his way to freedom, it is believed, by strapping himself to the undercarriage of a food delivery truck from the prison kitchen. This audacious move has consequently led to heightened security checks at all significant ports and travel hubs, causing disruptions and extensive delays.
Swift action is being taken by both the Prison Service and the Metropolitan Police to get to the bottom of the escape, showing urgency in their combined investigation. The initial theory holds that Khalife exploited his placement in the prison kitchen to orchestrate his escape. This occurred around 07:50 BST from Wandsworth Prison, a category B prison in the southwest of London.
Khalife is a tall individual, standing at 6ft 2ins. At the time of his escape, he was donned in his prison-issued chef’s uniform – a plain white T-shirt, red and white checked trousers, and sturdy brown steel toe-capped boots. Law enforcement asserts that while he may pose a low threat to the public, they advise against any attempts to approach him and encourage witnesses to dial 999 for immediate response.
The manhunt is widespread, spanning across the country, with special attention directed to the London suburb of Kingston and the North West. Despite the breadth of the search, thus far, there have been no major leaps in the investigation. The Met’s appeal to the public for assistance could suggest a lack of leads.
Dominic Murphy, Commander of the Counter Terrorism Command at the Met, has ensured that all police forces along with UK border points are alert and on high vigilance. Extra security measures have led to reported delays at Heathrow Airport, Manchester Airport and the Port of Dover. However, these disruptions are projected to lessen by evening.
With the search primarily targeted at London, he did caution that Khalife’s current location could potentially be anywhere in the country and that the possibility of him leaving the country cannot be ruled out.
Khalife had been awaiting trial under remand for terrorism and Official Secrets Act offences, which include preparing an act of terrorism and collecting information beneficial to an enemy. In a previous court appearance, he was alleged to have extracted personal information about fellow servicemen which could potentially aid in conducting further acts of terror.
The very fact that Khalife, a suspect in a terrorism case, was being held in a lesser secure prison, opposed to a maximum-security prison like Belmarsh in the southeast of London – raises serious questions about the justice system’s prudence.
In this case of high public interest, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has demanded a thorough investigation into the matter. The talks include dialogue with officials at the Prison and Probation Service and Wandsworth prison’s own governor, and revolving around the reasoning behind Khalife’s allocation to a lower security prison and the protocols followed once the escape was detected.
Working closely with the Prison Service, Justice Secretary Chalk is making earnest efforts to unravel how the escape unfolded. The enquiry also seeks to understand both the decision for the lower category designation and the procedures in place to handle the situation. Downing Street, undeniably perturbed, is being continuously notified of developments.
Besides offering a potentially significant lead to the investigation, this daring escape has also raised alarms about staffing and security within the prison system. The Wandsworth prison, in particular, has come under scrutiny for allegedly being understaffed and failing to uphold the necessary levels of security.
Despite the strain and tension of the manhunt, it’s worth noting that prison breakouts have been remarkably rare in recent years, with merely five recorded since 2017, and fewer than twenty since 2010. Yet, this most recent escape brings with it uncertainty and concern as it involves a suspect of potential terrorism, reminiscent of the Whitemoor prison break in 1994 involving IRA convicts.
