Search underway for escaped prisoner accused of terror offences

A nationwide manhunt is underway for Daniel Abed Khalife who escaped from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old was awaiting trial on terrorism offences. Khalife was facing charges of eliciting or attempting to elicit information “about an individual who was or had been a member of His Majesty’s forces which was of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism” and committing a bomb hoax by placing an article with intent.

He is believed to have escaped by strapping himself to the underneath of a food delivery van.

Extra checks are being held at airports and ports whilst the search is underway.

Police have issued an urgent appeal to the public to trace him. The police believe he escaped at around 7.50 in the morning on Wednesday.

Khalife is slim build, has short brown hair and is around 6ft 2ins tall. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and brown steel toe cap boots.

He has links to the Kingston area and it is believed he is still in the London area, though he may have travelled further afield.

The public have been advised not to approach Khalife, but to call 999 immediately if he is seen.

Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: “We have a team of officers who are making extensive and urgent enquiries in order to locate and detain Khalife as quickly as possible. However, the public can help us as well and should anyone see Khalife, or have any information as to where he might be, then please call 999 immediately.

“I also want to reassure the public that we have no information which indicates, nor any reason to believe that Khalife poses a threat to the wider public, but our advice if you do see him is not to approach him and call 999 straight away.”

Image: Met Police