Daniel Abed Khalife: Police scour Richmond Park for fugitive terror suspect

Police have been scouring Richmond Park for fugitive terror suspect Daniel Abed Khalife, Sky News understands.

Officers have been stationed at key entry and exit factors into the early hours of Friday – with two police helicopters overhead.

Richmond Park was closed through the operation, and the investigation has now been paused till daylight.

Khalife, a 21-year-old former soldier, escaped from Wandsworth Prison on Wednesday morning.

He was working within the kitchen and carrying a chef’s uniform when he held on to straps beneath a meals lorry to make his getaway.

Richmond Park is just some miles away from the Category B jail, with detectives beforehand confirming they have been focusing their search efforts within the space.

On Thursday evening, Scotland Yard stated there had been no confirmed sightings of Khalife since his escape – regardless of the police receiving greater than 50 calls from the general public.

While investigators imagine it’s attainable that the phobia suspect has already left the nation, over 150 counter-terrorism officers have been concerned in a nationwide manhunt.

A ‘very resourceful particular person’

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, admitted the circumstances round Khalife’s disappearance have been “a little unusual” – and stated the escape was “perhaps a testament” to his “ingenuity”.

He added: “We have some of the best military in the world here in the UK and he was a trained soldier.

“So finally he has expertise maybe some sections of the general public haven’t got.”

Commander Murphy went on to explain Khalife as a “very resourceful individual” – and stated his escape “clearly” took some planning.

Officers are investigating whether or not he had any assist, however no arrests have been made.

Khalife is a former member of the Royal Signals who was primarily based at Beacon Barracks in Stafford – and was on remand awaiting trial accused of leaving pretend bombs at a navy base, a cost below the Terrorism Act, and one other below the Official Secrets Act.

Read extra:
What is life like at Wandsworth?
Notorious prison breakouts
Why wasn’t Khalife in Belmarsh?

‘It shouldn’t be an appropriate jail’

The incident has additionally sparked a row about HMP Wandsworth, which was inbuilt 1851.

The most up-to-date report by His Majesty’s Chief Inspectorate of Prisons stated it “remains one of the most overcrowded prisons in the country, with most prisoners sharing a cell built for one”.

Charlie Taylor, chief inspector of prisons, informed Sky News he believes it should be shut down.

Speaking on the Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge, he stated: “When you find a prison like Wandsworth, it really needs closing ultimately – it is not a suitable prison.

“In a great world one would, however in fact you want jails as a result of it is advisable service the courts.”