Daniel Khalife's prison escape being probed as 'inside job', Met chief says

08 September 2023 , 08:17

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Daniel Abed Khalife escaped prison on Wednesday

Daniel Khalife's escape from prison was "clearly pre-planned" and he may have had help from others outside the jail, Metropolitan Police chief said today.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley says the force is investigating whether the escape was an "inside job" or others were involved.

"It is clearly pre-planned, the fact that he could strap himself onto the bottom of the wagon," Sir Mark said this morning. He told LBC a prison escape is "unlikely to be something you do on the spur of the moment".

A police vehicle is seen in Richmond Park as the hunt for the terror suspect continues (Peter Macdiarmid/LNP)

Asked if police are looking into whether it was an "inside job", the commissioner said: “It is a question. Did anyone inside the prison help him? Other prisoners, guard staff? Was he helped by people outside the walls or was it simply all of his own creation?” He called it "extremely concerning" that Khalife, 21, is "on the loose"

Asked whether he was surprised to learn that the terror suspect was in a Category B prison, Sir Mark said it did "seem odd" on first inspection.

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The commissioner told LBC the hunt for Khalife is a 'massive operation' involving "well into three figures of officers" as well as help from forces around the country and from the border force.

Khalife is believed to have made his getaway from Wandsworth prison while dressed as a chef (Sky News)

A huge police presence was detected in and around Richmond Park today (GMPSA)

"At the moment we are still really keen to get any reports from members of the public," he added.

It comes as the Metropolitan Police are searching Richmond Park for the escaped terror suspect, which is less than four miles from Wandsworth prison.

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 the Category B prison in southwest London.

Bradley Jolly