Escaped Terrorism Suspect Arrested By UK Police

A former British soldier suspected of terrorism-related crimes, who escaped from prison earlier this week, was apprehended in London on Saturday, according to the police.

Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, fled from Wandsworth prison in London on Wednesday morning by slipping out of the prison kitchen where he was working and attaching himself to the underside of a food delivery truck.

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A police statement stated, “Officers captured him just before 11:00 a.m. (1000 GMT) today in the Chiswick area of west London, and he is currently in police custody.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, speaking at the G20 meeting in New Delhi, expressed gratitude to the police and the public for their assistance in locating Khalife.

Khalife, who was discharged from the British army in May, was incarcerated pending trial for charges related to terrorism and the Official Secrets Act.

He is accused of seeking or attempting to obtain information that could be useful for someone planning a terrorist act while stationed at barracks in central England in 2021, as well as staging a bomb hoax by placing three canisters with wires on a desk.

Additionally, he is charged with acquiring information that might be of use to an enemy, with reports from the BBC suggesting he was accused of gathering intelligence for Iran.

Opposition lawmakers have called for explanations regarding how Khalife managed to escape and why he was not held in a maximum security prison. Questions have also arisen about the prison’s staffing and security protocols.

The effort to locate Khalife resulted in heightened security checks at UK ports and airports, resulting in delays for travelers.