Terror suspect’s jail escape ‘clearly pre-planned’ – Met boss
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error suspect Daniel Khalife’s escape from jail was “clearly pre-planned” and “it is a question” whether or not it was an inside job, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner has mentioned.
Sir Mark Rowley branded it “extremely concerning” that the 21-year-old, who was capable of sneak out of HMP Wandsworth in south west London on Wednesday, was “on the loose”.
His feedback come because the drive confirmed officers had in a single day been looking out Richmond Park – simply miles from the jail – as a part of the nationwide manhunt.
Khalife, an ex-soldier who was awaiting trial after allegedly planting a pretend bomb at an RAF base and gathering info that may be helpful to terrorists or enemies of the UK, was discharged from the Army in May.
He is believed to have escaped by strapping himself on to the underside of a supply lorry after leaving the jail kitchen in a prepare dinner’s uniform.
Sir Mark instructed LBC: “It is clearly pre-planned, the fact that he could strap himself onto the bottom of the wagon.”
A jail escape is “unlikely to be something you do on the spur of the moment”, he added.
The Met chief didn’t rule out the escape being an “inside job” when requested if police have been that risk.
“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?”, he replied.
Khalife’s disappearance has prompted questions over staffing ranges on the Victorian jail and whether or not he ought to have been in a better safety jail.
Sir Mark mentioned it did “seem odd” when requested if he was stunned to be taught the phobia suspect, who’s reportedly accused of gathering info for Iran, was being held in a class B facility.
The hunt for Khalife is a “massive operation” involving “well into three figures of officers” in addition to assist from constabularies across the nation and Border Force, the Commissioner instructed the radio station.
“At the moment we are still really keen to get any reports from members of the public,” he added.
Earlier, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly declined to say if he’s assured Khalife might be discovered.
“We do have fantastic security services and police services. I don’t think it would be useful or credible for me to speculate,” he instructed ITV’s Good Morning Britain programme.
“The important thing is that we let the police, the investigators, do their work.”