Daniel Khalife: police investigating if terror suspect escape from Wandsworth Prison was ‘an inside job’

Police are investigating whether the prison escape of a man awaiting trial for terrorism-related offences was “an inside job”.

Daniel Khalife, 21, managed to break out of London’s HMP Wandsworth at around 7:50am on Wednesday (7 September). The ex-British Army soldier, who is accused of planting fake bombs at a military base and spying, is understood to have fled the prison’s grounds by clinging to the underside of a food delivery van.

On Friday (8 September), as the manhunt entered its third day, Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley revealed that the force is exploring the possibility that Khalife was helped by guards inside the prison. Speaking to LBC, he said Khalife’s escape was “clearly pre-planned” and “unlikely to be something [he did] on the spur of the moment.”

When asked if police officers are looking into whether it was “an inside job”, Rowley replied: “It is a question. Did anyone inside the prison help him? Other prisoners, guard staff? Was he helped by people outside the walls or was it simply all of his own creation?”

Questions about the circumstances of Khalife’s escape from HMP Wandsworth have been mounting, with the Ministry of Justice investigating why someone accused of such serious crimes was not placed in a higher security prison. Meanwhile, Scotland Yard told a press briefing on Thursday (7 September) that despite more than 50 calls being received from members of the public, there have been “no confirmed sightings” of Khalife.

Police recently turned their search to one of London’s largest green spaces, Richmond Park, which is located less than three miles from the prison. Helicopters were spotted flying over the area, and police officers were seen stationed at entry and exit points.

It is believed that Khalife’s mother and sister lived in the flat on the outskirts of the park until recently. He is also said to have links to the Kingston area of London and north-west England.

Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, previously confirmed that while the search is focused in London, terror suspect Khalfife could “could be anywhere in the country at the moment and we are mindful of the risk of him potentially leaving the country”.

Amid concerns about Khalife potentially trying to flee the UK, passengers at airports such as Heathrow and Manchester faced lengthy delays on Wednesday (6 September). Security checks were heightened, and many travellers reported having their passports and IDs checked while they were waiting for their gate numbers.

Police have released an image of a vehicle that has been searched during the investigation, as well as information about the route it took after leaving HMP Wandsworth. The Bidford food delivery van left HMP Wandsworth at 7.32am, taking a right turn out of gates onto Heathfield Road.

It then turned left onto Magdalen Road, and left again onto Trinity Road (A214) and 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), and left once more onto Fairfield Street. The van then turned right onto Wandsworth High Street (A3), and stayed straight ahead onto West Hill before continuing on to Upper Richmond Road (A205).

Guards at HMP Wandsworth realised Khalife was missing at around 7:50am on Wednesday (7 September), and the Met were notified at around 8:15am. Police traced the van and stopped it in Upper Richmond Road, near the junction with Carlton Drive, at 8:37am.

Officers spoke to the driver and carried out a thorough search, during which they discovered “strapping” on the underside of the vehicle which Khalife is believed to have used to escape. Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen anything - including the van - on this route to get in touch.

Detectives have since said that Khalife’s method of escape showed he is a “resourceful” individual, adding that his training with the British Army may enable him to evade detection.

Khalife was last seen wearing the prison’s chef uniform - a white t-shirt and red and white chequered trousers - with brown steel toe cap boots. He has short brown hair, is around 6ft2, and has been described as “of slim build”.

The Met Police said it had “no reason to believe Khalife poses a threat to the wider public” but urged members of the public not to approach him. Instead, if anyone sees him, they have been told to call 999.