The family of missing terror suspect Daniel Khalife have urged the 'intelligent, easygoing, kind boy' to turn himself in.
A manhunt has been ongoing following his escape from Wandsworth prison. The 21-year-old is understood to have broken out strapping himself underneath a food delivery van. Detectives believe he was still wearing a prison-issue cook's uniform when he slipped out of the category B south west London jail.
Dominic Murphy, the Met's Counter Terrorism Commander, says that Khalife was spotted walking towards Wandsworth town centre. The sighting is one of several "key lines" of enquiry the police are following and the force have moved to again reassure the public.
"We are continuing to focus our efforts in London but also look at other parts of the UK," he said. Officers have received around 100 calls from the public since he bolted from the prison as Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley confirmed they are investigating whether Khalife was helped by someone working inside the jail.
HMP Wandsworth in London (PA)Now, speaking to The Times, a close relative of Khalife said he should give himself up, and called him a “very, very intelligent, easygoing and kind boy” who had changed in recent years – even going missing in the weeks before he was charged.
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They said: “If I could talk to him, I would tell him to end this and give himself up, even though I understand he is afraid. Two years ago he was quite happy; he said he never wanted to leave, he said they were good people, and then something happened last year.
“He was scared to talk about it, and so he ran away. I don’t believe the allegations, he spent four years in the Army. It is just silly to imagine he would betray them.”
The relative also questioned the Army’s possible role in what may have happened to Khalife, telling the paper the Army “has to answer for what happened”.
It comes after police offered a £20,000 reward for information leading to his capture. A Met Police statement read: "The Met is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information that leads to the arrest of Daniel Abed Khalife, as detectives investigate a sighting of him near Wandsworth Roundabout.
"Khalife escaped from Wandsworth Prison on Wednesday morning. The search for him remains a significant operation led by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command. More than 150 of the Met’s counter terrorism officers and staff, with support from colleagues across the Met and in other forces, have been working at pace around the clock, making extensive enquiries to try and find Khalife.
"Detectives have received information from a member of the public who said they saw a man fitting Khalife’s description walking away from a BidFood van that had stopped near the south entrance to the Wandsworth Roundabout, at the top of Trinity Road, shortly after his escape. The man was then seen walking towards Wandsworth town centre.
"This is one of several key lines of enquiry that officers are pursuing. A reward of up to £20,000 is now being offered for information which leads directly to the arrest of Khalife. To report a live sighting of Khalife, or information which is urgent, please call 999. Alternatively, anyone with information which might assist the ongoing enquiry can call police on 101."
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