Daniel Abel Khalife: Independent inquiry to happen into terror suspect’s escape

An unbiased investigation will happen into Daniel Abed Khalife’s escape from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk informed MPs on Thursday it’ll embrace two pressing critiques, the primary will concentrate on the “placement and categorisation” of all inmates on the jail.

The second will examine all these individuals in custody presently charged with terror offences.

A manhunt is under way for the former soldier, 21, who went lacking on Wednesday morning.

There are fears the fugitive – who’s believed to have escaped from the jail kitchen by clinging to a supply van – could attempt to flee the nation.

The authorities had already introduced an inside inquiry into how the incident occurred, however Labour stated that was not enough and referred to as for a unbiased investigation into wider points with the jail system.

Questions are being raised concerning alleged understaffing at Wandsworth jail and why Khalife was not being held in Category A HMP Belmarsh – the place terror suspects are often saved.

Read extra: Fears grow over escaped terror suspect – live updates

Mr Chalk stated the unbiased investigation “will take place in due course”.

He added: “No stone must be left unturned in getting to the bottom of what happened. Who was on duty that morning? In what roles, ranging from the kitchen to the prison gate? What protocols were in place? Were they followed?”

Shabana Mahmood, the shadow justice secretary, stated it “beggars belief” that Khalife was capable of escape.

She stated: “This is an extremely serious matter and it has highlighted catastrophic and multiple failures not just in respect of this case but of our wider criminal justice system.”

‘Cuts have penalties’

Wandsworth jail, a Category B facility, was constructed 170 years in the past and described in a latest watchdog report as “overcrowded, crumbling, vermin-infested” and struggling with workers shortages.

The identical report stated an inmate managed to flee in 2019 and highlighted persevering with issues about safety.

The Prison Officer Association (POA) has additionally stated the jail is “overcrowded and under resourced” and is experiencing “chronic staffing shortages”.

POA General Secretary Steve Gillan stated of the escape that “cuts have consequences”.

“No one ever wants to see an escape from Prison but since 2010 this union has been on record as saying cuts have consequences,” he stated.

“You cannot take out 900 million from the budget with reduced staffing levels up and down the country and expect the Prison Service to operate as if nothing has happened.”

Calls for an unbiased inquiry have been additionally backed by the Liberal Democrats, who stated there must be an “independent review into the entire prison categorisation process”.

Justice spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP stated: “There are serious questions to answer about how Daniel Abed Khalife escaped – and why he was placed in HMP Wandsworth in the first place.

“Prison staffing shortages and retention points have change into the norm beneath this Conservative Government. We can’t let jail breaks change into commonplace, too.”

The escape is threatening to trigger another political crisis for embattled Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on high of the college concrete fiasco.

Earlier he sought to reassure the general public by calling jail break-outs “extraordinarily uncommon”.

But Labour is on the attack, pointing to wider cuts to public services and infrastructure.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “That’s a sample of behaviour, now, beneath this authorities, whether or not it is this jail, or different prisons, or different infrastructure throughout the nation, and, you recognize, it actually hasn’t helped that within the final 10 years, we have had 10 justice secretaries.”

Read extra:
Why wasn’t he banged up in Belmarsh?
Escape piles pressure on embattled PM

Khalife, who was awaiting trial after allegedly planting a pretend bomb at an RAF base and gathering data that is perhaps helpful to terrorists or enemies of the UK, was discharged from the Army in May 2023.

He has denied the three expenses towards him.

He was final seen sporting a white T-shirt, crimson and white chequered trousers and brown, metal toe-cap boots, the Metropolitan Police stated. He is slim and 6ft 2in tall, with brief brown hair.

The jail was placed on lockdown after he fled.

His escape has prompted additional safety checks at main transport hubs.

Kent Police confirmed junctions eight and 9 of the M20 have been quickly shut on Thursday because of the enhanced safety checks, whereas there have additionally been additional checks at airports.