January 27, 2023 – The Charges
The journey begins on January 27, 2023, when Daniel Abed Khalife, a soldier stationed at Beacon Barracks in Staffordshire with the Royal Signals, faces charges of a terror offense and perpetrating a bomb hoax at RAF Stafford on or before January 2. He is also accused of seeking information related to individuals connected to His Majesty’s forces, deemed potentially useful to those plotting acts of terrorism on August 2, 2021. Khalife appears at Westminster magistrates court the following day, where he is remanded in custody.
May 2023 – Discharge from the British Army
In May 2023, Khalife is discharged from the British army, marking a significant transition in his life.
July 21, 2023 – The Plea Hearing
Khalife makes an appearance at the Old Bailey for a plea hearing. To his existing charges, a third is added under the Official Secrets Act. This charge alleges that between May 1, 2019, and January 6, 2022, Khalife “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.”
It is believed to be linked to accusations of sharing information with Iran. Khalife staunchly denies all three charges, setting the stage for a six-week trial scheduled for November 13 at Woolwich Crown Court in southeast London.
September 6, 2023 – The Daring Escape
At 7:32 am, Khalife makes a daring escape from HMP Wandsworth. Strapping himself to the underside of a Bidfood delivery vehicle, he vanishes while still dressed in his prison-issued white T-shirt and red and white gingham trousers. Prison staff realizes Khalife’s disappearance at 7:50 am, swiftly alerting the Metropolitan police at 8:15 am.
The Escape Unfolds
At 8:37 am, the Bidfood delivery vehicle is intercepted in Upper Richmond Road, Putney, near the junction with Carlton Drive. Surveillance footage later reveals Khalife abandoning the vehicle near Wandsworth roundabout, approximately a mile from the prison. At 3:30 pm, Scotland Yard issues a public alert, urgently seeking Khalife’s whereabouts.
September 7 – 8, 2023 – The Intensifying Search
The manhunt intensifies. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk announces an independent investigation and immediate reviews into the categorization and placement of all HMP Wandsworth prisoners. False sightings and shut-down junctions on the M20 fuel the search. Access to Richmond Park, spanning 2,500 acres and located just over four miles from HMP Wandsworth, is cordoned off as thermal scanners and specialist teams join the effort.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley probes the possibility of an inside job contributing to Khalife’s escape. Sightings emerge in Wandsworth town center, prompting a £20,000 reward offer for information. A close family member appeals to Khalife to surrender to authorities.
September 9, 2023 – The Capture
At 8:50 am, the police focus their search on Chiswick, less than five miles from HMP Wandsworth, with reports indicating Khalife has changed out of his prison uniform and is now in dark clothing. Public sightings intensify. By 11 am, the Metropolitan police successfully apprehended Khalife in Chiswick, bringing him into police custody.
FAQs
What were the charges against Daniel Abed Khalife that led to his escape from HMP Wandsworth?
Daniel Abed Khalife faced charges of a terror offense and perpetrating a bomb hoax at RAF Stafford on or before January 2, 2023. He was also accused of seeking information related to individuals connected to His Majesty’s forces, deemed potentially useful to those plotting acts of terrorism on August 2, 2021.
What triggered Daniel Abed Khalife’s escape from HMP Wandsworth?
Daniel Abed Khalife made a daring escape on September 6, 2023, from HMP Wandsworth while awaiting trial on the aforementioned charges. He strapped himself to the underside of a Bidfood delivery vehicle and vanished. Prison staff discovered his disappearance at 7:50 am, leading to an urgent search by the Metropolitan police. Khalife’s escape triggered a significant manhunt, which ultimately led to his capture on September 9, 2023, in Chiswick, less than five miles from the prison.
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