Daniel Khalifa arrested: London police find escaped terror suspect in Chiswick

CNN
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Officers from London’s Metropolitan Police found and arrested Daniel Khalife, police said Saturday, at the end of a three-day campaign. Chase For the terrorist suspect who escaped from prison on Wednesday.

“Daniel Khalifa, who escaped from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday 6 September, has been arrested by Metropolitan Police officers,” the police statement read.

Police said Khalifa was arrested just before 11am local time (6am ET) on Saturday in Chiswick, west London, where search efforts had been refocused earlier in the day.

The statement added: “We would like to thank the public and media for their support throughout our investigation to locate Khalifa and will provide a further update on his arrest in due course.”

The escape of the 21-year-old terror suspect from Wandsworth Prison on Wednesday prompted a massive search operation that led to flight delays and increased checks at British ports.

Khalifa, a member of the British Army, was in jail awaiting trial on terrorism charges for planting fake bombs at a military base, according to Britain’s PA Media news agency. The news agency said he denied the three charges against him.

Khalifa escaped from prison by tying himself to the underside of a delivery truck while dressed as a chef. By the time police tracked down the truck, two miles east of the prison, Khalifa had disappeared, and all that remained of his escape were the officers discovered under the truck.

The incident sparked criticism of the prison administration and the government, and led to the launch of an independent investigation.

This is a developing story, more to follow.