A nationwide manhunt is underway for Daniel Abed Khalife, a former soldier suspected of terror offenses who escaped from HMP Wandsworth in London. Khalife, 21, was awaiting trial for allegedly leaving fake bombs at a military base. It is believed he escaped by strapping himself to the underside of a food delivery van in the prison’s kitchen.
Security checks at airports and ports have been intensified, leading to delays, as authorities are concerned about Khalife potentially leaving the country. Police describe him as 6ft 2ins tall and last seen wearing a white T-shirt, red and white chequered trousers, and brown steel toe cap boots.
While he is considered a “low risk” to the public, people are urged not to approach him and to call 999 instead. Khalife, who joined the Army in 2019, has links to London’s Kingston area and the North West, but the manhunt has been expanded nationwide.
Khalife was on remand awaiting trial for terrorism and Official Secrets Act offenses, including preparing an act of terrorism and collecting information useful to an enemy, allegedly working for a hostile state.
-BBC-
