British terror suspect Khalife rearrested four days after escape from jail

The British Metropolitan police has confirmed the rearrest terror suspect Daniel Khalife four days after he escaped from jail.

Khalife, a former British Army soldier escaped from Wandsworth Prison on Wednesday

He was caught just before 11:00am today in the Chiswick area, and he is currently in police custody, the Met said in a statement.

The Police thanked the public for their cooperation and said they would provide further updates on the arrest ‘in due course’.The former soldier in the 22 Signal Regiment, was on remand at HMP Wandsworth ahead of his six-week terror trial

Police had deployed boats, dogs, helicopters and armed men to search for Khalife in the past four days.

See the full statement by police below

Metropolitan Police officers have arrested Daniel Khalife, who escaped from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday 6 September.

Officers apprehended him just before 11:00hrs today, Saturday 9 September, in the Chiswick area, and he is currently in police custody.

We would like to thank the public and media for their support throughout our investigation to locate Khalife and we will provide a further update on his arrest in due course.

Sightings before arrest:

The investigation to locate and arrest Khalife involved over 150 officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, supported by many other officers from across the Met and other forces across the UK, as well as other partners including Border Force and intelligence services.

Khalife was arrested on a towpath near Rowdell Road, Northolt by an officer who was part of the investigation team.

He was arrested on suspicion of being unlawfully at large, and taken to a west London police station, where he was further arrested on suspicion of escaping lawful custody.

Khalife remains in police custody at this time and enquiries remain ongoing.

Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “The arrest of Khalife this morning is the culmination of an incredible effort by the investigation team, who have been working around the clock and have been supported by colleagues from across the Met and indeed the whole of the UK.

“But I must also thank the public and media for their tremendous support as well. We received well over 100 calls from the public following our various appeals and some of that information was key in helping us to focus our efforts and, ultimately, find Khalife.”

Overnight, officers carried out an intelligence-led search of an address in the Richmond area. Officers spoke with the occupants of the address and carried out a full and thorough search, but found no trace of Khalife and no evidence to suggest he might have been there prior.

Shortly after that search, police received a call from a member of the public with a reported sighting of Khalife in Spencer Road, Chiswick. Officers were deployed immediately to that area, but despite intensive searches did not locate him.

In the early hours of this morning, a further sighting of Khalife was reported at the junction of Church Street with Chiswick Mall. Officers were again immediately deployed to that area. The sighting led to the issuing of a further description of Khalife, as wearing a black baseball hat, black t-shirt and dark bottoms.

Officers remained in the area, supported by colleagues from the Met’s Territorial Support Group, dogs units, local officers, police helicopter (NPAS) and specialist police search or “POLSA” teams as well.

At around 10:40hrs an officer who was deployed as part of the ongoing investigation spotted Khalife on a pushbike on a towpath near to Rowdell Road, and managed to stop Khalife and arrest him.

Commander Murphy added: “Our priority following Khalife’s escape was to find him and bring him back to custody, which, thanks to the help of the public, and the excellent work by our officers, we have achieved. We are now pivoting our investigation towards the circumstances of his escape and whether there may have been any other persons involved and that investigation continues.”