Daniel Abed Khalife, Escaped Ex-Soldier, Apprehended After Daring London Prison Break

The arrest took place in West London‘s Chiswick area, with a plain-clothes officer intercepting Daniel Abed Khalife as he rode a bicycle, just before 11 a.m. local time.

Daniel Abed Khalife, a 21-year-old former soldier, who managed to elude authorities by concealing himself beneath a van dressed as a chef after escaping from a London prison, has been successfully apprehended

Metropolitan police’s counter-terrorism chief, Commander Dominic Murphy, commended the swift capture, emphasizing the difficulty in locating the fugitive. Daniel Abed Khalife, who had vanished from prison for approximately 75 hours, was found fully cooperative and was handcuffed without incident. His capture was aided by multiple tips from vigilant members of the public who reported sightings of him. Daniel Abed Khalife had been working in the prison’s kitchens on the morning of his escape, donning the attire of a cook- a white T-shirt paired with red checkered trousers.

Authorities revealed that Daniel Abed Khalife executed his escape by tethering himself to the underside of a departing food delivery vehicle

The ensuing manhunt prompted heightened security measures at prominent ports and airports, including London Heathrow. Daniel Abed Khalife faces charges of planting three counterfeit canister bombs at a military facility and divulging classified information to Iran.

Dismissed from the military in May following his arrest, Daniel Abed Khalife maintains his innocence. His trial is slated for November. In the wake of this escape, UK Justice Secretary Alex Chalk announced a thorough independent inquiry into the incident, encompassing an examination of the circumstances leading to Daniel Abed Khalife’s placement in a low-security facility and a reevaluation of the housing of high-risk inmates at the jail. Chalk emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation into every aspect of the occurrence, including staffing details and adherence to established protocols.

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