Devendra Kumar
The on-the-run terror suspect Daniel Khalife, a 21-year-old former soldier who escaped HMP Wandsworth four days ago, was caught off guard by a plain-clothed officer while riding a push-bike along a west London canal towpath. According to Commander Dominic Murphy, the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism boss, Khalife was arrested just before 11am on Saturday on suspicion of being unlawfully at large and being an escaped prisoner.
Murphy explained that the investigation gained momentum in the days leading up to the arrest, with a surge of calls from the public providing various sightings of Khalife. The search for the fugitive took a dramatic turn in the early hours of Saturday morning when officers conducted an intelligence-led search in the Richmond area. Although they didn’t find Khalife during this search, they received a flurry of additional calls from the public over the next hour, revealing more possible locations for the suspect.
When Khalife was finally apprehended, he was pulled off his push-bike by the plain-clothed officer and arrested at around 10.41am on Rowdell Road in London. According to Murphy, Khalife was “fully cooperative” and was handcuffed and arrested without incident. The officer who made the arrest was able to spot Khalife due to his exceptional professionalism and quick thinking.
Khalife’s capture was met with praise from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who expressed his “very pleasure” at the outcome. Sunak credited the police and the public for their tireless efforts in tracking down the suspect, noting that their combined efforts had led to a swift resolution. As the authorities continue to investigate Khalife’s activities, his arrest serves as a testament to the effectiveness of police work and community involvement in keeping the streets safe.