Daniel Khalife manhunt latest: Public advised ‘not to approach’; officers check car boots in Chiswick

Khalife didn’t have much help during escape, says son of Great Train Robbery mastermind

With Daniel Khalife back in police custody after four days on the run, questions are still circulating about how he managed to escape in the first place. 

What we know so far

Khalife escaped dressed in red chequered chef trousers, a white t-shirt and brown boots.

He managed to strap himself underneath a food lorry, evading detection at security checks that are in place at both of MPS Wandsworth prison entrances. 

He was then spotted by an eyewitness near Wandsworth Roundabout.

Since the escape, numerous experts have been speculating about whether Khalife had help in his escape.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said yesterday that police are “looking at” whether the former soldier was assisted by prison guards or other inmates as part of their investigation.

‘He didn’t have a lot of help’

Today, the latest to throw their theory into the ring is Nick Reynolds, the son of the mastermind of the Great Train Robbery, Bruce Reynolds.

Contrary to those before him, Mr Reynolds said he believes Khalife didn’t have much help in his escape.

Speaking to Sky News earlier, he said: “It’s very, very, very hard, unless you’ve really planned ahead to going to go on the run and you really need a support group and money.

“The fact he was caught so quickly gives me the indication, at least I think, you know, he took a bit of a chance and he didn’t have a lot of help. 

“But this is pure speculation.

“Once the elation of actually getting out, day by day, he would have got more and more paranoid.

“He would have been highly stressed in a high state of alertness and extreme paranoia,” Mr Reynolds said.