Soldier Accused of Terror Charges Escapes from London Prison
October 20, 2021
London’s Metropolitan Police announced that a serving member of the British Army, Daniel Abed Khalife, has escaped from Wandsworth prison in southwest London. Khalife was awaiting trial on terror charges and alleged breaches of the Official Secrets Act.
According to reports, Khalife went missing shortly before 8 a.m. UK time on Wednesday morning. The 21-year-old soldier is accused of planting fake bombs at a military base, as reported by the PA Media news agency.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police issued an urgent appeal to the public for assistance in locating Khalife. They believe he escaped from the prison at approximately 07:50hrs. Khalife was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, red and white checkered trousers, and brown steel toe cap boots. He is described as being of slim build with short brown hair and standing around 6ft 2ins tall.
Although police suspect Khalife may still be in the London area, there is a possibility that he may have traveled further afield. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, assured the public that there is currently no information indicating that Khalife poses a threat to the wider public.
“We have a team of officers who are making extensive and urgent enquiries in order to locate and detain Khalife as quickly as possible,” said Commander Murphy. He advised the public not to approach Khalife if spotted but instead to call 999, the UK’s emergency services phone line.
UK prison escapes are rare, according to data from the British government. There was only one escape across England and Wales in the 2021-22 period, none in the preceding period, and only a few in the years prior.
Authorities are working diligently to locate Khalife and ensure his swift apprehension.