Confirmed sighting of escaped terror suspect Daniel Khalife as reward on offer

08 September 2023 , 16:11

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There has been a "significant" confirmed sighting of escaped terror suspect Daniel Khalife as police put up a £20,000 reward for information that leads to the on-the-run lag's arrest.

A manhunt has been going on for more than 48 hours following his escape from Wandsworth prison. The 21-year-old is understood to have broken out strapping himself underneath a food delivery van. Detectives believe he was still wearing a prison-issue cook's uniform when he slipped out of the category B south west London jail.

Dominic Murphy, the Met's Counter Terrorism Commander, says that Khalife was spotted walking towards Wandsworth town centre. The sighting is one of several "key lines" of enquiry the police are following and the force tonight moved to again reassure the public.

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A reward of £20,000 for information that leads to Khalife's arrest (AP)

Police say there has now been a confirmed signing of the escaped lag (Sky News)

"We are continuing to focus our efforts in London but also look at other parts of the UK," he said. Officers have received around 100 calls from the public since he bolted from the prison as Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley confirmed they are investigating whether Khalife was helped by someone working inside the jail.

Commander Murphy continued: “This remains a fast-paced and dynamic investigation, but I want the public to know that a large number of officers are working extremely hard to locate Khalife.

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“We have now received more than 100 calls from the public, and we thank everyone who has contacted us with information. The sighting near Wandsworth Roundabout could be very significant, and this is one of many useful lines of enquiry that officers are perusing.

This is what the 21-year-old wore during the escape (PA)

“We continue to urge the public to contact us straight away if they think they have seen Khalife or have information on his whereabouts. We will continue to work closely with all our colleagues in police services across the country and other partners to trace Khalife and bring him back into custody.”

A Met Police statement read: "The Met is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information that leads to the arrest of Daniel Abed Khalife, as detectives investigate a sighting of him near Wandsworth Roundabout.

"Khalife escaped from Wandsworth Prison on Wednesday morning. The search for him remains a significant operation led by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command.

"More than 150 of the Met’s counter terrorism officers and staff, with support from colleagues across the Met and in other forces, have been working at pace around the clock, making extensive enquiries to try and find Khalife.

Another witness says they say a man running from a BidFood lorry and into a car (PA Wire)

"Detectives have received information from a member of the public who said they saw a man fitting Khalife’s description walking away from a BidFood van that had stopped near the south entrance to the Wandsworth Roundabout, at the top of Trinity Road, shortly after his escape. The man was then seen walking towards Wandsworth town centre.

"This is one of several key lines of enquiry that officers are pursuing. A reward of up to £20,000 is now being offered for information which leads directly to the arrest of Khalife. To report a live sighting of Khalife, or information which is urgent, please call 999. Alternatively, anyone with information which might assist the ongoing enquiry can call police on 101."

He escaped HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday (PA)

Justice secretary Alex Chalk said yesterday "no stone will be unturned" in the hunt for the Khalife and stressed he "will be found and made to face justice". Airports across the nation went into chaos on Wednesday as Border Force agents carried out stringent checks to make sure the former soldier hadn't left the country. His escape has posed serious questions about the suitability of his incarceration at prison in south west London.

Mark Fairhurst, chair of the Prison Officer's Association, told the BBC Wandsworth prison is "chronically overcrowded and understaffed" blaming it on "crippling" government budget cuts. He said: "They only had 69 prison officers on duty, during this escape they should have had at least 120 prison officers on duty."

Barrister and former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation Lord Carlisle told BBC Radio 5 Live it was "mind-boggling" a terrorism suspect was allowed to work in the kitchen with free access to knives. The government yesterday ordered an independent review of how the prisoner escaped.