8th September, 2023
No fewer than 150 officers of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Counter Terrorism Command are involved in the massive manhunt for terror suspect, 21 year-old ex-soldier, Daniel Abed Khalife who broke jail.
The operation is being led by Commander Dominic Murphy, who who has asked for information from the public.
Khalife escaped from Wandsworth prison on Wednesday, by strapping himself underneath a van that came to deliver food.
“Since yesterday, over 150 officers and staff have been working around the clock on apprehending Khalife”, Murphy said.
“We have issued a nationwide alert that has resulted in increased security at our ports and borders, however currently there have not been any confirmed sightings.
“I recognise and am fully aware of the impact these measures are having on the public. We are working to ensure as minimal disruption as possible.
“It is crucial for the public to help us with this search and to call us immediately if they have any information on the whereabouts of Khalife.”
Khalife was declared missing at 07:50hrs on 6 September. The Met was notified at 08:15hrs and took immediate action to track down a delivery van that had left the prison.
At 08:37, police officers stopped the van in Upper Richmond Road, near the junction with Carlton Drive. Officers spoke to the driver and carried out a thorough search. Police discovered strapping on the underside of the van.
Officers have traced the route of the van after it left Wandsworth Prison and are appealing to anyone who might have seen the van on this route to get in touch.
The van left HMP Wandsworth at 07:32 taking a right turn out of gates onto Heathfield Road. It then turned left onto Magdalen Road. The van then turned left onto Trinity Road (A214) up to the Wandsworth Roundabout. It took the first exit onto Swandon Way (A217).
It then turned left onto Old York Road (past Wandsworth Town station) then left onto Fairfield Street , right onto Wandsworth High Street (A3) staying straight ahead onto West Hill and then on to Upper Richmond Road (A205).
The Met has continued to focus its efforts in the London area, particularly around this route, as well as the Kingston area, where Khalife is known to have connections.
“Khalife’s previous military experience may mean he is more aware of efforts to apprehend him.
“While he is not assessed to pose a threat to the wider public we advise anyone who seems him not to approach him and instead call 999 immediately”, Murphy said.
“Daniel Khalife will be found and he will be made to face justice,” Alex Chalk, the justice minister, told parliament.
Khalife, who is 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and was wearing a chef’s outfit of a white T-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and brown steel toe cap boots, was being held in prison ahead of trial on offences relating to terrorism and the Official Secrets Act.
Khalife, who was discharged from the army in May, is accused of eliciting or trying to elicit information likely to be useful to a person preparing an act of terrorism while he was based at barracks in central England in 2021, and also making a bomb hoax by placing three canisters with wires on a desk.
He is also charged with obtaining information which might be “directly or indirectly useful to an enemy”.
The BBC reported that the state Khalife is accused of gathering information for is Iran.
“Daniel Khalife will be found and he will be made to face justice,” Alex Chalk, the justice minister, told parliament.
“No stone must be left unturned in getting to the bottom of what happened,” Chalk said.