Two Guards Suspended from HMP Wandsworth After Former Soldier’s Escape
In a startling turn of events, two prison guards at HMP Wandsworth have been suspended in the wake of former soldier Daniel Khalife’s escape. The 21-year-old, who is a terror suspect, reportedly managed to flee from the South London jail beneath a food delivery truck last Wednesday.
Police are now diligently investigating whether Khalife received any assistance during his four-day escape in London. The focus of their inquiry is directed at junior “operational support-grade” prison officers who are tasked with inspecting the underside of delivery trucks using mirrors.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley had previously confirmed that the police force was examining the possibility of Khalife receiving help from others during his escape.
Pressure has been mounting on the Prison Service following an unfortunate incident at Wandsworth, where an inmate was stabbed yesterday afternoon. The 24-year-old victim was rushed to the hospital, and fortunately, his condition is described as non-life-threatening.
HMP Wandsworth, with a capacity for 1,300 inmates, has earned a reputation for inmate-on-inmate violence. Charlie Taylor, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, revealed that prison guards had resorted to the use of force a staggering 1,295 times, equating to around four incidents daily between 2020 and 2021.
In the aftermath of Khalife’s escape, dozens of higher-risk prisoners have been relocated from the Category B prison. Khalife himself was apprehended on Saturday morning on a canal towpath in Northolt, West London, a distance of 12 miles from the prison.
At the time of his arrest, Khalife had in his possession a sleeping bag, a change of clothes, a bottle of water, and a Waitrose cooler bag containing food. This dramatic capture marked the end of a 75-hour manhunt that involved over 150 anti-terror police officers.
Today, Daniel Khalife is slated to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, where he faces charges of escaping from custody.