Fugitive Terror Suspect’s Brazen Prison Escape Unveiled
In a daring escape that has raised eyebrows across the nation, 21-year-old terror suspect Daniel Abed Khalife managed to slip away from HMP Wandsworth by hiding beneath a food delivery van. This audacious act has ignited a massive manhunt, with authorities on high alert.
Notably, this isn’t Khalife’s first attempt at a great escape. Veteran prison officer Neil Samworth disclosed that Khalife had previously gone missing within the prison’s kitchen facilities. There, at the end of every kitchen shift, a roll call is conducted. It appears that this was not Khalife’s first brush with such incidents, prompting questions about whether he had been planning this escape all along.
What boggles the mind is how Khalife, who was awaiting trial on terror charges, found himself working in the prison kitchen. Normally, inmates on remand, especially those with potentially dangerous allegations against them, do not secure such positions. Neil Samworth expressed his incredulity and suggested that Khalife should have been transferred to the higher security facility at Belmarsh while awaiting trial.
The delay in notifying the police about Khalife’s disappearance, roughly an hour after he was discovered missing, has put immense pressure on the prison system. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has announced an inquiry into the prison’s handling of the situation, with plans for an independent investigation in the future.
Khalife made his escape dressed in a chef’s uniform – a white T-shirt, red and white checkered trousers, and brown steel-toed boots. Reports suggest he used makeshift straps to attach himself to the delivery truck as it left the prison.
The glaring question now is how Khalife went unnoticed during this escape. Neil Samworth believes the delivery van should have been thoroughly searched before exiting the Category B jail, raising concerns about lapses in security.
Experts are also pondering whether this escape was an “inside job.” John Podmore, with experience governing other prisons, pointed out that kitchen assignments typically go to the most reliable and trusted prisoners, making it a vulnerable area. It’s an area with regular vehicle and goods movement, and its proximity to the prison gate adds to its vulnerability.
The hunt for Khalife has caused nationwide chaos, with heightened security checks causing delays at airports and ports. Anti-terror police are working tirelessly to prevent the fugitive from leaving the UK.
Khalife, formerly with the Royal Signal Corps, stands accused of leaving fake bombs at an RAF base in January. He had been missing for over three weeks following the bomb hoax before being arrested on January 26. Additionally, a charge under the Official Secrets Act alleges that Khalife collected sensitive information about soldiers from an MoD computer system that could be exploited by an adversary.
Khalife, who was on remand at Wandsworth prison, was scheduled to stand trial on November 20. The Ministry of Justice has declined to comment on these recent claims, leaving many baffled about how this daring escape unfolded.