Daniel Khalife – live: Escaped terror suspect who fled Wandsworth Prison arrested in Chiswick after 75-hour hunt

Escaped terror suspect Daniel Khalife arrested in Chiswick

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Escaped terror suspect Daniel Abed Khalife was tackled off his bike by a police officer on a canal towpath and then arrested, ending a 75-hour nationwide manhunt.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the former soldier was arrested by a plainclothes counter-terrorism officer on Rowdell Road in west London just before 11am on Saturday morning and is currently in their custody.

At a press conference on Saturday afternoon, Commander Dominic Murphy, the Met’s counter-terrorism chief, said Khalife was spotted, “pulled off a bike” and handcuffed by the officer, who was working as part of their investigation, in the Northolt area near Chiswick.

This came after the manhunt had “really gathered momentum” on Friday afternoon, he said, with multiple reports of confirmed sightings, which led to an overnight search of a home in the borough of Richmond.

Commander Murphy confirmed there have been no further arrests yet but threatened: “Anyone who supported Khalife before, during or after – I can tell you we will be looking for those individuals”

Khalife’s arrest follows a national four-day search after the 21-year-old was believed to have escaped from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday morning by strapping himself to the bottom of a delivery lorry after leaving the prison kitchen in a cook’s uniform.

Show latest update 1694256154Escaped terror suspect Daniel Khalife found and arrested in Chiswick

Escaped terror suspect Daniel Abed Khalife has been found and arrested in the Chiswick area of west London following a four-day nationwide manhunt.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the former soldier was arrested by officers just before 11am on Saturday morning and is currently in their custody.

The 21-year-old is believed to have escaped from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday morning by strapping himself to the bottom of a delivery lorry after leaving the prison kitchen in a cook’s uniform.

In their statement, the Met said: “We would like to thank the public and media for their support throughout our investigation to locate Khalife and we will provide a further update on his arrest in due course.”

Tara Cobham9 September 2023 11:42

1694273249Pictured: Canal towpath where officer caught Khalife

A picture shows the canal towpath where a police officer tackled Daniel Khalife off his bike and then arrested, ending a 75-hour nationwide manhunt.

In a press conference on Saturday afternoon, the Metropolitan Police confirmed the former soldier was arrested by a plainclothes counter-terrorism officer on Rowdell Road in west London just before 11am on Saturday morning and is currently in their custody.

A picture shows the canal towpath where a police officer tackled Daniel Khalife off his bike and then arrested, ending a 75-hour nationwide manhunt

(Google Maps)

Tara Cobham9 September 2023 16:27

1694272929Home Secretary praises work of police in tracking down Khalife

Home Secretary Suella Braverman praised the work of police and intelligence workers in tracking down Daniel Khalife.

Writing on social media, she said: “Terrorism suspect Daniel Khalife has been tracked down & brought back into custody thanks to the determined work of our police & intelligence partners.

“I want to thank @metpoliceuk, agencies & Border Force for their work on this massive operation.”

Tara Cobham9 September 2023 16:22

1694271835Anyone who helped Khalife in his escape will face justice, says Met Police

Police will ensure that anyone who helped or supported Daniel Khalife in his escape faces justice, said Commander Dominic Murphy.

At an online press conference this afternoon, he said there have been no further arrests so far but threatened: “Anyone who had supported Khalife before, during or after – I can tell you we will be looking for those individuals and they will form part of our investigation.”

He told reporters: “It is important to say now though, now he is in custody, and he is in custody in a west London police station, this is still an ongoing investigation so he still has to stand trial for the original offences for which he was on remand and clearly we now need to go and complete the rest of our investigation into his escape.”

He added: “If we identify anybody who helped and supported him we will be looking for them and ensuring that they also face justice.”

Tara Cobham9 September 2023 16:03

1694270922Khalife tackled off bike by police on canal towpath

In a press conference this afternoon the Metropolitan Police said that Daniel Khalife was tackled off his bike by police on canal towpath and then arrested.

Commander Dominic Murphy, the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism chief, said at an online press conference: “At 10.41am he was arrested in Rowdell Road in UB5 in London on the canal towpath.

“He was actually arrested by a plain clothes officer… and he was riding a pedal cycle so a pushbike at the time, was pulled off that pushbike by that officer and arrested at that location.

“Upon being detained by the officer he was fully co-operative and handcuffed and arrested.”

Joe Middleton9 September 2023 15:48

1694269367Recap: Soldiers reveal what Khalife is really like

The soldier facing terrorism and espionage charges who escaped from prison claimed to be a survivalist and went on solitary overnight camping expeditions when off-duty, according to former colleagues who knew him.

Daniel Abed Khalife boasted that he would join a signals unit of Special Forces and was preparing for the entry requirements. There is, however, no evidence of him officially embarking on this path. Former soldiers who knew him say that he was viewed as “ a bit of a fantasist” , but someone “ who took his fitness seriously”.

Two former soldiers in the Royal Corps of Signals described 21 year old Khalife as someone seeking attention and sometimes “ playing the clown” to do so. They recall an incident in which he stole a senior officer’s epaulettes, put them on his uniform, and wanted to post photos on social media wearing them.

Tara Cobham9 September 2023 15:22

1694266251Timeline of Khalife’s escape and eventual arrest

Terror suspect Daniel Khalife has been arrested on the fourth day of a manhunt after he escaped from HMP Wandsworth underneath a lorry.

The 21-year-old was arrested just before 11am on Saturday in Chiswick, west London, and is now in police custody, the force said. Officers descended on Chiswick with police dogs in tow after “intelligence-led activity” and confirmed sightings from members of the public in the area overnight.

Rishi Sunak said he is “very pleased” Khalife has been arrested as he praised efforts by the police and the public in finding him.

Here is a timeline of the events leading to the capture of Khalife:

Tara Cobham9 September 2023 14:30

1694265370Police officers pictured in Chiswick this morning after confirmed sightings in the area overnight.

(PA)

Police officers search location in Chiswick as hunt for Daniel Khalife continues

(PA)

Police in the Chiswick area in west London where Khalife was eventually found (Jamie Lashmar/PA)

(PA Wire)

Rachel Flynn9 September 2023 14:16

1694265331Chiswick resident opened curtains to five police officers this morning

The Met Police issued an appeal at around 9am for members of the public in the west London district to “remain vigilant”, announcing that Khalife was believed to be wearing a black baseball cap, black T-shirt and dark-coloured bottoms, carrying a small bag or case.

And just under two hours later officers apprehended the suspect.

Local resident Paul Wade said he opened his curtains to find five police officers outside his home earlier on Saturday.

The 79-year-old said: “They were checking everybody’s gardens. Our neighbour told us there were sniffer dogs.

“As we understand it, they just clambered over the walls and inspected, they didn’t wake everybody up. They just checked. They had helicopters above.”

Tara Cobham9 September 2023 14:15

1694264852Daniel Khalife, the 21-year-old who escaped from HMP Wandsworth

Undated handout file photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of Daniel Abed Khalife,

(PA)

The outfit believed to have been warn by Khalife during his escape.

(Metropolitan Police)

Khalife escaped by tying himself with straps to the bottom of a Bidfood delivery van.

(PA)

Rachel Flynn9 September 2023 14:07