Former British soldier Daniel Khalife, prosecuted for terrorist offenses and suspected of espionage, was arrested this Saturday shortly before 11:00 a.m. He is currently in custody.
A former British soldier prosecuted for a terrorist offense and suspected of espionage, Daniel Khalife, was arrested this Saturday in London three days after his escape from prison, announced the police of the British capital.
“Metropolitan Police officers have arrested Daniel Khalife, who escaped from Wandsworth Prison on September 6,” law enforcement said on the social network X (formerly Twitter).
He was arrested shortly before 11 a.m. in an area of west London where his presence had been reported and is in police custody, Scotland Yard said.
Suspected of having acted for the benefit of Iran
Investigators suspect he escaped by tying himself to a delivery truck. His arrest ends a three-day manhunt to find him.
From the G20 summit in India, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greeted the news on British television channels, thanking the police for their “tremendous work” and the “public for their help”.
The 21-year-old is suspected of having collected intelligence that could be used by terrorists or enemies of the United Kingdom. According to several media, including the BBC, he is suspected of having acted for the benefit of Iran.
Questions about prison security
This escape caused astonishment and raised questions about the security of the prison system.
Daniel Khalife escaped by clinging to a truck that came to make a delivery to the prison kitchen, where he worked. Straps were found under the vehicle, suggesting he became attached to it.
The leak was “clearly prepared in advance”, London police chief Mark Rowley said on Friday.
Daniel Khalife is being prosecuted for acts dating back to January and August 2021, on a Royal Air Force base in Strafford, in central England.
He is accused of having obtained or attempted to obtain information “about an individual who was or has been a member” of the British army, “likely to be of use to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism” .
He is also being prosecuted for a false bomb threat on January 2. He was kicked out of the army in May. He contests the charges against him.
Source: BFM TV
