As the manhunt for escaped terror suspect Daniel Khalife continues, police are now exploring the possibility of assistance from prison guards or fellow inmates in his escape, according to Sir Mark Rowley, the head of the Metropolitan Police.
Sir Mark Rowley revealed that ongoing investigations have uncovered “bits of intelligence” that have led to expanded police activity across various police forces in the country. This means that the scale of the operation has grown significantly beyond the initial 150 counterterrorism officers engaged in the search.
Speaking to LBC’s Nick Ferrari, Sir Mark emphasised the gravity of the situation, stating, “We’ve got somebody charged with terrorist and Official Secrets Act offences. That is extremely concerning that he is now back on the loose, and we need to get hold of him as quickly as possible.”
One aspect that raised concerns is the fact that Khalife escaped from a category B prison rather than being held in a high-security facility. The commissioner did not comment on the specific location of Khalife’s escape but emphasised that the escape appeared to be pre-planned.
Responding to questions about the timing of the public alert regarding the escape, Mr. Rowley explained that opening phone lines too early could lead to an overload of information, making it challenging to distinguish between helpful tips and noise. In this case, the police did not perceive Khalife as an immediate threat to local communities, which influenced their decision to delay the alert until later in the day.
Khalife has strong links to southwest London, where the police are intensively searching for him. Milena Veselinovic, a news correspondent, reported that he grew up in the area, and his mother and sister are believed to have resided near Richmond Park. The park, known for its vast green spaces, presents challenges for law enforcement as it provides numerous hiding spots.
The manhunt is further complicated by the significant head start Khalife had between the time he escaped from Wandsworth prison and when the vehicle he escaped on was searched by officers.
Khalife, who was awaiting trial on charges related to planting a fake bomb at an RAF base and collecting information for potential terrorist activities, was discharged from the Army in May 2023. He has consistently denied the charges against him. Khalife was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, red and white checkered trousers, and brown steel-toe-cap boots. Described as slim and 6 feet 2 inches tall, he has short brown hair.
