Daniel Abed Khalife: ‘Strapping’ discovered underneath van in hunt for fugitive ex-soldier after Wandsworth Jail escape

A fugitive ex-soldier is believed to have escaped from jail by tying himself to the underside of a meals truck.

Details have began to emerge of how terror suspect Daniel Abed Khalife fled HMP Wandsworth, with Justice Secretary Alex Chalk revealing “strapping” was discovered beneath the automobile.

The 21-year-old was working within the kitchen and was carrying a chef’s uniform, and is assumed to have hidden beneath the meals supply van and held on to the straps to make his escape.

Sky News understands Bidfood are the supply agency concerned.

In a press release the corporate stated: “Yesterday morning we were made aware of a security incident involving one of our vehicles, whilst out on delivery. We can confirm that our driver fully cooperated with the police on this matter before returning back to the depot. We will continue to assist the authorities in their ongoing investigation.”

Read extra: Terror suspect latest: Motorway closed amid hunt for prisoner on the run

Outlining to MPs within the Commons what occurred at HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday, Mr Chalk stated the truck left the class B males’s jail at 7.30am after making a supply to the kitchen.

“Shortly afterwards, local contingency plans for an unaccounted prisoner were activated and in line with standard procedure the police were informed,” the cupboard minister stated.

The jail was locked down whereas employees tried to find out Khalife’s whereabouts.

The meals truck was stopped and searched by police after the alert was raised.

“Strapping was found underneath the vehicle which appeared to indicate that Daniel Khalife may have held onto the underside of it in order to escape,” stated Mr Chalk.

M20 stretch shuts because of manhunt

He ended his assertion by saying a manhunt is underneath approach and Khalife “will be found” – as he introduced an independent investigation into the escape.

It will embrace two pressing critiques, the primary specializing in the “placement and categorisation” of all inmates on the jail, whereas a second will examine all these folks in custody presently charged with terror offences.

Khalife was on remand on the south London jail – awaiting trial accused of leaving pretend bombs at a army base, and different prices referring to the Official Secrets Act.

It is feared the previous member of the Royal Signals – who was primarily based at Beacon Barracks in Stafford – could have fled the nation.

His disappearance has prompted further safety checks at main UK airports and ports together with Manchester, Gatwick, Heathrow and Dover.

Kent Police confirmed on Thursday the M20 was shut between junctions 8 and 9 because of the “enhanced security checks” – and to permit freight heading for mainland Europe to queue on the empty part of the motorway.

‘Prisoner could search for burn remedy’

The head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, Commander Dominic Murphy, has stated there may be “no reason to believe Khalife poses a threat to the wider public” however urged folks to not method him and to name 999 in the event that they spot him.

He has hyperlinks to northwest England and Kingston in London however Mr Murphy stated the manhunt covers the entire of the UK.

Former Scotland Yard detective Peter Bleksley stated Khalfe could have suffered burns after clinging on to the underside of the meals van and search remedy – and urged pharmacies to maintain a lookout.

He instructed Sky News: “Clinging to the bottom of a vehicle, if it’s got a petrol or diesel combustion engine, it is a pretty risky thing to do, not only because of course you can lose your grip and fall on a roadway, but exhaust systems, which generally speaking run the entire length of a vehicle like that, get incredibly hot.

“The slightest contact of that exhaust system will go away you with a vey disagreeable burn.

“So I would suggest to anybody who works in a chemist or pharmacy or shops where medical supplies are sold – just keep your eyes out today if somebody comes in asking for advice on how to treat burns, and sourcing bandages… and the like.”

‘Bomb hoax’

Khalife appeared on the Old Bailey through video hyperlink in July to disclaim a cost of breaching the Official Secrets Act, which alleges he dedicated “an act prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state”.

It states that between 1 May 2019 and 6 January 2022 he “obtained, collected, recorded, published or communicated to any other person articles, notes, documents or information which were calculated to be or might be or were intended to be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy”.

Read extra:
What life is like at HMP Wandsworth
Why wasn’t he banged up in Belmarsh?
What we know about terror suspect

He additionally denied a cost underneath the Terrorism Act that alleges he “elicited information about individuals who are members of His Majesty’s forces” on 2 August 2021.

The cost pertains to him allegedly “obtaining personal information from the MoD Joint Personnel Administration system of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism”.

Khalife additional pleaded not responsible to finishing up a bomb hoax on or earlier than 2 January.

It is claimed he positioned “three canisters with wires on a desk in his accommodation” with the intention of inducing in one other a perception this was “likely to explode or ignite and thereby cause personal injury or damage to property”.

He is because of face a six-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court from 13 November.