Daniel Khalife, a terror suspect wearing chef's clothes is on the run after escaping London prison which is Wandsworth prison, an establishment known for its strict security measures.
What makes this escape particularly alarming is the fact that Khalife was reportedly wearing chef's clothing when he made his getaway. This disguise allowed him to blend in and evade initial detection, raising concerns about the level of planning involved.
Just before 8 a.m. local time, Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, vanished from Wandsworth Prison, which is southwest of London. He had been awaiting trial for alleged violations of the Official Secrets Act and terrorism charges.
Khalife is an active British army soldier. According to the PA Media news agency, he is charged of detonating phony bombs at a military base.
Law enforcement agencies, including the Metropolitan Police, swiftly launched a comprehensive investigation. Security footage from the prison and its vicinity, as well as interviews with prison staff and inmates, became essential in understanding the escape route and the suspect's actions.
The escape triggered an immediate manhunt, with authorities deploying significant resources to locate and apprehend Khalife. Given the severity of the situation, cooperation with international law enforcement agencies was initiated to track down the fugitive.
Dominic Murphy, the chief of the Met's counter-terrorism unit, said the agency was acting on urgent information to 'find and detain' him as soon as possible.
Khalife was wearing "chef's uniform, so red and white trousers, a white t-shirt, and brown shoes," Met Counter Terrorism Commander Dominic Murphy told reporters.
He apparently managed to get away by grabbing onto a delivery van. When questioned about the reports, Murphy responded that the jail service needed to provide an explanation.
Murphy continued:
“„We are working really closely with border colleagues to try and understand any risk that might be posed by him leaving the country so at the moment you could describe this as a nationwide manhunt involving every force in the country that has information that might be of use to us.- Dominic Murphy
In the wake of Khalife's escape, public safety became paramount. Authorities issued public alerts and warnings to inform residents in the vicinity of the prison and surrounding areas. Vigilance and prompt reporting of any suspicious activity were encouraged to aid in the recapture efforts.
In January, the authorities made public the charges against Khalife. He allegedly "elicited or attempted to elicit information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism" in August 2021, according to their allegations at the time.
According to a further accusation, he allegedly did so "with the intention of inducing in another a belief that the said article was likely to explode or ignite and thereby cause personal injury or damage to property."
A terror suspect wearing chef's clothes is on the run after escaping London prison. As London remains on high alert and the manhunt continues, the escape of Daniel Khalife serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by high-risk prisoners. It underscores the importance of robust security measures, vigilant law enforcement, and cooperation between agencies to ensure the safety of the public and the swift recapture of escapees.