Daniel Khalife RECAP: CCTV footage shows lorry used by terror …
New CCTV footage showed the lorry[1] that ex-soldier turned terror suspect Daniel Khalife escaped under, as it drove through London.
The third day of the national manhunt for the 21-year-old saw the first confirmed sighting of the ex-serviceman after he escaped from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday morning.
Described as potentially a “very significant” development in the ongoing search for him, it came as the escape continues to be probed as an “inside job”. Met Police’s boss says the escape was “clearly pre-planned”[2] and IT expert Khalife may have had help from others outside the jail.
Early this morning, Met Police officers took their search to Richmond Park, using helicopters with heat-seeking cameras that circled the royal park[3].
Khalife had been discharged from the army in May of this year after allegedly planting three fake bombs at an RAF base, and gathering information that could be useful to a terrorist.
Khalife has denied all three charges against him. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and brown, steel toe-cap boots, Met Police said, and is slim and 6ft 2in, with short brown hair.
The blog is no longer running, read on to catch up on the day’s developments
Fans all say the same thing as Holly Willoughby wows in white LK Bennett dress[4]
21:45KEY EVENT
RECAP of third day of manhunt for missing Khalife
This is a recap on the third day of the national manhunt for missing ex-soldier Daniel Khalife.
Daniel Abed Khalife pictured with an ex army friend, on a night out near Army base in Blandford
20:55Kieren Williams
Inside the story of member of public mistaken for Khalife
One innocent member of the public was mistaken for Daniel Khalife yesterday, leading to his arrest.
Horatio Castille, from Banbury, Oxfordshire, was arrested by Thames Valley Police with a video of him being put in cuffs being viewed tens of thousands of times online.
The BBC[5] reported that he had been waiting for a train to London at the time, when he was approached by officers, when sat on a bench, and handcuffed.
This came after a woman had said he matched the description of Khalife. Mr Castille said: “They told me about this Daniel guy who’s broken out of prison, and showed me a picture of him and I was like ‘no, no, that’s not me’. I wouldn’t say it was scary, but I would say it was kind of nerve-racking as you can imagine, just randomly being put in cuffs. I could see why someone would see me and think it was the same guy.”
Click here[6] to
20:49KEY EVENT
New CCTV of the van Khalife escaped under, as it drives through London
The Met Police released more CCTV of the food delivery van that Daniel Khalife escaped under as it drove through London.
The CCTV clip shows the BidFood-branded vehicle Khalife strapped himself to so he could bolt from Wandsworth prison on Wednesday morning. Police are now offering a £20,000 reward for any information that leads to the lag’s arrest.
In the video, the lorry slows down in traffic as unsuspecting people walk by on either side of the road.
Click here[7] to
The van Khalife escaped under (
Met Police)
19:11Kieren Williams
Police going door-to-door not far from where Khalife was spotted
Plain-clothed police officers have been spotted going door-to-door not far from where Khalife was spotted rolling out from under a food delivery van.
Along the residential streets, officers have been continuing their enquiries after what could be a “very significant” development in the investigation.
18:52KEY EVENT
The life of Daniel Khalife – before terror charges and prison
Daniel Khalife was born in Westminster, in 2001, along with his twin sister, the BBC reported[8].
They outlined the life that the former soldier turned terror suspect had lived. He is British, with Lebanese heritage on his father’s side, and his parents were said to have split up when he was young.
It is believed his family life was in and around Kingston, London, and he went to Teddington School, and left in 2018 after completing his GCSEs.
(
Sky News)
People who knew him then told the BBC that he had been a normal teenager, with one former friend saying they had thought he was a funny character.
He was also a talented sprinter, with one person joking police would struggle to catch up to him.
One school friend told the outlet: “He just sort of got on with it like most of us did. He had social skills. He wasn’t particularly socially withdrawn or anything. He had friends. [Since the prison break] Everyone’s just had the same reaction [of shock]… It was just mind-blowing. It wasn’t expected at all.”
Then, during basic training, one former fellow serviceman said Khalife had been the “joker”, cracking remarks or acting cocky.
It isn’t clear what put him on the path that led to him being charged and arrested.
18:37Kieren Williams
CCTV at HMP Wandsworth was ‘three years overdue an upgrade’
A new report has claimed that CCTV at HMP Wandsworth was three years overdue updating, meaning that when Daniel Khalife escaped they had been hoping to improve the jail’s security.
The i reported that the Ministry of Justice authorised funding for the security improvements in 2019, after that year’s prisoner escape.
However, the work didn’t start until November 2021, meaning it wasn’t due to be finished by 2025.
HMP Wandsworth (
PA)
18:29Kieren Williams
WATCH New CCTV footage shows food delivery van that Khalife escaped under
New CCTV released by the Met Police has shown the food delivery van that Daniel Khalife escaped under.
It shows the vehicle driving along a busy three-lane road in Wandsworth, south west London.
Indicating, it pulls from one lane to another, with the public unaware that Khalife could be strapped to the bottom.
18:01KEY EVENT
Chef’s uniform Khalife was wearing during escape pictured
The Met Police has released images of the clothes that Daniel Khalife was wearing when he escaped from HMP Wandsworth.
The 21-year-old had been working in the kitchen and was dressed as a chef.
This is what the 21-year-old wore during the escape (
PA)
17:40Kieren Williams
New CCTV clarifies route escape van took
As a result of new CCTV, the Met Police have clarified the route taken by the van that Daniel Khalife clung to, to escape from HMP Wandsworth.
On Wednesday , the 21-year-old former soldier strapped himself to the bottom of a van to get out of the category B prison.
In a statement today, they said: “As a result of further CCTV enquiries, we can clarify that the van took the following route upon leaving Wandsworth Prison. After reaching Wandsworth Roundabout, the van turned onto Swandon Way and the van remained on the road until turning onto Fairfield Street.”
17:30Kieren Williams
WATCH Update issued as sighting confirmed of runaway Khalife
17:26Kieren Williams
Met Police counter terror commander issues update after ‘very significant’ sighting
Dominic Murphy, head of the Met Police’s counter terrorism efforts, has released an update after it was confirmed that Khalife had been spotted since escaping – as the force announced a £20,000 reward too.
He said the sighting could be “very significant” and thanked the public for their help. He added: “This remains a fast-paced and dynamic investigation, but I want the public to know that a large number of officers are working extremely hard to locate Khalife.
Dominic Murphy, Commander of SO15 (
Mirror)
“We have now received more than 100 calls from the public, and we thank everyone who has contacted us with information. The sighting near Wandsworth Roundabout could be very significant, and this is one of many useful lines of enquiry that officers are perusing.
“We continue to urge the public to contact us straight away if they think they have seen Khalife or have information on his whereabouts. We will continue to work closely with all our colleagues in police services across the country and other partners to trace Khalife and bring him back into custody.”
17:12KEY EVENT
Confirmed sighting of Khalife, Met police say
The Met Police have revealed today that they have had their first confirmed sighting of Daniel Khalife.
The 21-year-old was seen coming out from underneath the van, he escaped under, near Wandsworth Town roundabout, counter terror chief Dominic Murphy said.
He was then spotted walking towards Wandsworth town centre.
Daniel Abed Khalife
In a statement released today, the Met Police said: “Detectives have received information from a member of the public who said they saw a man fitting Khalife’s description walking away from a BidFood van that had stopped near the south entrance to the Wandsworth Roundabout, at the top of Trinity Road, shortly after his escape. The man was then seen walking towards Wandsworth town centre.
“This is one of several key lines of enquiry that officers are pursuing.”
£20,000 reward being offered for information concerning Khalife
The Met Police are offering a reward of up to £20,000 for any information related to Daniel Khalife.
The runaway soldier turned terror suspect was also said to have been seen by a member of the public. In an update this afternoon, the Met Police said: “A reward of up to £20,000 is now being offered for information which leads directly to the arrest of Khalife. To report a live sighting of Khalife, or information which is urgent, please call 999. Alternatively, anyone with information which might assist the ongoing enquiry can call police on 101.
The van Khalife escaped under (
Met Police)
“We have also opened our UK Image Appeal website[10] which allows people to submit any relevant imagery and video directly to the investigation team. This could be CCTV, doorbell footage, mobile phone footage, or dash-cam footage.”
16:44Kieren Williams
Ex Met Police detective says he is sure he knows how Daniel Khalife vanished
One ex-detective for the Met Police has said he’s sure he knows how former soldier turned suspect terrorist Daniel Khalife vanished.
Peter Bleksley, a founder member of Scotland Yard’s undercover unit in the 1980s, said there was one key detail that led him to believe Khalife has “already left on a plane”.
Khalife escaped from HMP Wandsworth (
PA)
If it hadn’t been for the strapping, found on the underbelly of the van, Mr Bleksley would have considered that the 21-year-old might still be in London. But because of it, he’s sure the escape was planned.
Speaking to The Express, he said: “At first I was hoping he would be found on CCTV at two o’clock in the morning, scavenging a bit of Kentucky Fried Chicken out of a bin. But then they said about the straps. That says to me, this was planned. And that says outside help. It means they have a completely different job on their hands. It’s undoubtedly possible that he’s already left on a plane.”
Click here to
16:13Kieren Williams
Khalife ‘used to joke about escaping prison on the lorry’
According to one former inmate who worked alongside Daniel Khalife, the 21-year-old used to joke about escaping from HMP Wandsworth on a food delivery van.
Chris Jones spoke to BBC London, who reported he was released in june after being acquited following seven months on remand.
He said the escapee had struck him as “odd” but claimed he was “going to be famous”. Chris said: “We always used to joke about that lorry – jump in it and drive off – but there was a lot of security staff around the kitchens so it is a surprise he got through there.”
Chris Jones, 53, worked in the kitchens of HMP Wandsworth with Khalife (
bbc.co.uk)
14:21Bradley Jolly
Escaped prisoner may have burns on face as pharmacists warned to keep watch
Escaped prisoner Daniel Khalife – whose breakout from a Category B prison is being probed as a potential “inside job” – may have burns on his face, a former Met Police detective said.
Peter Bleksley, who became a founding member of SO10, Scotland Yard’s most secretive undercover squad, warned pharmacists to keep watch for a man with burn injuries and requesting help. It is thought Khalife, 21, will have suffered a “very unpleasant burn”[12] as he clung onto the underside of a van to flee HMP Wandsworth and head for London’s affluent suburbs.
If this has happened, it is believed the former soldier – or someone on his behalf – will visit a pharmacy, chemist or shop where medical supplies are sold to seek advice or treatment.
(
Daily Mirror)
12:52Bradley Jolly
Rishi Sunak pressed on whether he has confidence in the governor of HMP Wandsworth
Rishi Sunak was asked specifically whether he has confidence in the governor of HMP Wandsworth, following the escape of terror suspect Daniel Khalife.
Speaking to broadcasters in New Delhi, he said: “This is obviously something that people will be focused on and I want to reassure people the police are working night and day to recapture the individual.
“Thankfully, these incidents are extremely rare. The Justice Secretary has initiated already an internal inquiry into specific circumstances around his escape. And it would be right to just let that go through so we know exactly what happens.”
Pushed again, he said insisted that it was important to “establish the facts first”.
“The detail of what’s happening is being established as I speak by the Justice Secretary right now.”
12:17Bradley Jolly
Khalife had told another inmate he was ‘going to be famous’
One former HMP Wandsworth inmate, who worked alongside Khalife in the prison’s kitchens, said the escapee had struck him as “odd” and had told him he was “going to be famous”.
Chris Jones, 53, who was released in June after being acquitted following seven months on remand, told the programme: “We always used to joke about that lorry – jump in it and drive off – but there was a lot of security staff around the kitchens so it is a surprise he got through there.”
Daniel Khalife was awaiting trial on terrorism charges (
Metropolitan Police/AFP via Gett)
12:06Bradley Jolly
Maps show key routes and areas of search since prisoner escape
New maps show the route of a van underneath which terror suspect Daniel Khalife[13] clung as it took him from a prison to leafy suburbs.
The 21-year-old former soldier fled HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday and officers have spent three days searching for the man, who was awaiting trial in relation to terror and Official Secrets Act offences, including committing a “bomb hoax” and trying to elicit information that would have been “useful to a terrorist”.
Metropolitan Police stopped a Bidfood lorry in Putney, southwest London, within one hour of Khalife being reported missing. Straps were found underneath the HGV but there was no sign of the fugitive[14], who is a computing specialist.
Police believe this is the route the van took on Wednesday (
Press Association Images)
11:38Bradley Jolly
Sadiq Khan addresses the escape of Daniel Khalife
When asked about the manhunt for terror suspect Daniel Khalife, which enters a third day after his escape from HMP Wandsworth, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said there were questions about the “link between government austerity and this man escaping.”
He said: “There’s a question in relation to the medium and long term about the link between government austerity and this man escaping.
“I know from my own experience, as the member of parliament previously for Tooting where Wandsworth prison is, (there are) big problems in relation to it being overcrowded and being a Victorian prison, lack of investment, lack of enough staff and those questions will need answering from the Government.”
10:07Bradley Jolly
Police appeal again for help from members of the public
During an address on LBC this morning, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the manhunt is a “massive operation”.
Hundreds of officers are said to be involved but Sir Mark said the public remain crucial to the investigation too.
“We are still really keen to get any reports from members of the public,” the police boss said.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley takes part in a live phone-in on LBC’s Nick Ferrari at Breakfast show (
PA)
09:52Bradley Jolly
Police presence continues at Richmond Park
Photographs show several polive vehicles remain at Richmond Park following the activity earlier.
The popular park is now open and cyclists are seen riding bikes in one snap.
Metropolitan Police are yet to say if anything of interest was found during their search this morning.
A police vehicle is seen in Richmond Park as the hunt for terror suspect Daniel Khalife continues (
Peter Macdiarmid/LNP)
09:32KEY EVENT
Daniel Khalife’s prison escape being probed as ‘inside job’, Met chief says
Daniel Khalife’s[15] escape from prison was “clearly pre-planned” and he may have had help from others outside the jail, Metropolitan Police chief said today.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley says the force is investigating whether the escape was an “inside job” or others were involved.
“It is clearly pre-planned, the fact that he could strap himself onto the bottom of the wagon,” Sir Mark said this morning. He told LBC a prison escape is “unlikely to be something you do on the spur of the moment”.
For more information, read this developng story[16].
Police comb Richmond Park in hunt for the fugitive (
GMB)
09:04Bradley Jolly
Khalife’s operation had ‘considerable degree of planning,’ expert claims
Peter Bleksley, former Met detective, says Khalife’s escape from HMP Wandsworth had “considerable degree of planning”.
Mr Bleksey, a founding member of Scotland Yard’s secretive undercover squad SO10, said the discovery of the strapping has changed the complexion of the policing operation.
Speaking to Express.co.uk[17], he said: “At first I was hoping he would be found on CCTV at two o’clock in the morning, scavenging a bit of Kentucky Fried Chicken out of a bin.
“But then they said about the straps. That says to me, this was planned. And that says outside help.
“It means they (police) have a completely different job on their hands. It’s undoubtedly possible that he’s already left on a plane.”
Peter Bleksley, who was a detective with Met Police, has shared his assessment of the escape (
Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)
08:58Bradley Jolly
HMP Wandsworth has been “under significant pressure for years”
The Howard League for Penal Reform, a charity which campaigns for prison reform, says the rare incident is unsurprising.
Its Communications Manager Rob Preece told Sky News HMP Wandsworth has been “under significant pressure for years” and now the consequences are clear.
He also spoke about a lack of staff at the large prison in southwest London.
With the news of Daniel Khalife’s escape dominating the media, our Communications Manager @Rob__Preece spoke to @SkyNews about the “significant pressure” Wandsworth has been under and the consequences of chronic staff shortages and overcrowding.#WandsworthPrison #PrisonSystem pic.twitter.com/l6O1k7NaN4[18][19][20][21][22]
— The Howard League (@TheHowardLeague) September 8, 2023[23]
08:48Bradley Jolly
Security expert blasts authorities for choice of jail for terror suspect
A security expert has slammed the authorities for putting Khalife at HMP Wandsworth in the first place.
Professor Anthony Giles, who lectures in the field at University of Buckingham, said: “You’ve got somebody here on the loose, making a monkey of the authorities.”
He made the analysis on GB News this morning.
08:35Bradley Jolly
Foreign Secretary squirms as he’s quizzed on the manhunt
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly declined to comment on whether he was confident that escaped terror suspect Daniel Khalife will be found.
“We do have fantastic security services and police services. I don’t think it would be useful or credible for me to to speculate.
“The important thing is that we let the police, the investigators do their work,” he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain programme.
He also told Sky News the Government is “updating, modernising and increasing our prison estate” following concerns about the escape.
“Prison escapes were 10 times higher prior to us coming in to office”
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly says the government is “updating, modernising and increasing our prison estate”
Latest: https://t.co/s8u2rIrnxm[24]
Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 pic.twitter.com/TWmJ2mZIwY[25]
— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 8, 2023[26]
08:29Bradley Jolly
‘Prisons are under-resourced,’ blasts Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has launched a scathing attack on the resources made available to prisons.
The MP for Kingston and Surbiton said prisons “just don’t have the people” they need. Talking on LBC News, the 57-year-old politician added: “Lack of staffing seems to be coming through loud and clear.”
“Lack of staffing seems to be coming through loud and clear”.
Prisons “just don’t have the people” they need, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey tells LBC News, following the escape of terror suspect Daniel Khalife.@LBCNews | @azizlisa[27][28]
— LBC News (@LBCNews) September 8, 2023[29]
08:23Bradley Jolly
Khalife’s escape from HMP Wandsworth was ‘very well planned,’ expert says
Norman Brennan, a former police officer, understands Daniel Abed Khalife was given “a lot of help and his escape was very well planned”.
Speaking this morning on TalkTV, he said: “I would suggest they wouldn’t be going back to where they would associate which is Kingston.
“They would have preempted all the things the police or security services would do and he’s a soldier, so he’s a pretty switched on bloke.”
Former police officer Norman Brennan believes the escaped terror suspect was given ‘a lot of help and his escape was very well planned’.
A nationwide manhunt continues for Daniel Khalife, who escaped prison on Wednesday morning.@TVKev | #TalkTV pic.twitter.com/1vszQ1B0ch[30][31][32]
— TalkTV (@TalkTV) September 8, 2023[33]
08:14Bradley Jolly
Police are keeping an ‘open mind’ as to Khalife’s whereabouts
Met Police’s counter-terrorism commander, Dominic Murphy, has said he was keeping an “open mind” as to whether Khalife had received support from somebody to escape prison and whether he had managed to leave the country.
He said more than 150 investigators and police staff from counter terrorism command working in London on investigation and officers had received more than 50 calls from the public which had provided “some really valuable lines of inquiry”.
Lorries queue for the Port of Dover along the A20 as security checks are being carried out amid an ongoing effort to track down Khalife (
PA)
References
- ^ New CCTV footage showed the lorry (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ the escape was “clearly pre-planned” (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ helicopters with heat-seeking cameras that circled the royal park (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Fans all say the same thing as Holly Willoughby wows in white LK Bennett dress (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ the BBC reported (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ Click here to