Daniel Khalife

Khalife was born on 27 September 2001 in London.{{cite news |title=Appeal to trace man escaped from HMP Wandsworth |url=https://news.met.police.uk/news/appeal-to-trace-man-escaped-from-hmp-wandsworth-471856 |newspaper=Mynewsdesk |publisher=Metropolitan Police |access-date=7 September 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Martin |last2=Hymas |first2=Charles |last3=Sawer |first3=Patrick |date=6 September 2023 |title=Escaped terror suspect may be trying to flee country |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/09/06/daniel-abed-khalife-escaped-wandsworth-prison-try-flee-uk/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230906205755/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/09/06/daniel-abed-khalife-escaped-wandsworth-prison-try-flee-uk/ |archive-date=6 September 2023 |access-date=7 September 2023 |work=The Telegraph}} His mother was born in Iran.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2dp8p54zp6o|title=Daniel Khalife: Ex-soldier accused of spying for Iran 'gathered names of special forces'|date=9 October 2024|website=BBC News |first1=Daniel |last1=Sandford |author1-link=Daniel Sandford (journalist) |first2=George |last2=Wright}} For a while he lived in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. He attended Teddington School, a comprehensive school in Teddington, Greater London, where he was a talented runner.{{Cite news |last=Casciani |first=Dominic |last2=Bell |first2=Chris |date=8 September 2023 |title=Who is Daniel Khalife: Profile of escaped prisoner |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66756393 |access-date= |work=BBC News}} He left school in 2018.

Khalife joined the British Army in 2018{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Holly |last2=Gregory |first2=Andy |date=8 September 2023 |title=All we know about Daniel Khalife – Royal Signals soldier on the run from prison |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/who-is-daniel-khalife-wandsworth-prison-b2407760.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908112408/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/who-is-daniel-khalife-wandsworth-prison-b2407760.html |archive-date=8 September 2023 |access-date=8 September 2023 |work=The Independent}} or 2019. He was a network engineer serving with the Royal Corps of Signals,{{Cite web |date=8 September 2023 |title=Daniel Khalife arrested by police in Chiswick, west London |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-66749354 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909141518/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-66749354/page/3 |archive-date=9 September 2023 |access-date=9 September 2023 |website=BBC News}} and was based at Beacon Barracks in Stafford.{{cite news |last1=Vaughan |first1=Henry |last2=Robinson |first2=James |title=Daniel Abed Khalife: Terror suspect escapes Wandsworth Prison |url=https://news.sky.com/story/urgent-police-appeal-as-terror-suspect-escapes-wandsworth-prison-12956202 |work=Sky News |access-date=6 September 2023 |date=6 September 2023}}

In September 2018, soon after he joined the military, Khalife contacted an Iranian intelligence agent; although he claimed to have told MI6 that he wished to become a double agent,{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Amy |last2=Sandford |first2=Daniel |date=28 November 2024 |title=Daniel Khalife: Former British soldier found guilty of spying for Iran |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c75lyx9xrp4o |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |last=Rawlinson |first=Kevin |date=2024-11-28 |title=Former soldier Daniel Khalife found guilty of spying for Iran |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/nov/28/former-soldier-daniel-khalife-found-guilty-of-spying-for-iran |access-date=2024-12-01 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} this was seen by prosecutors as a "cynical game" he was playing. He also contacted a man linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) via Facebook and further built relationships with other Iranian contacts. During his military service, Khalife photographed a list containing the names of 15 soldiers, including some members of the elite Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS); it is believed that he sent the list to his Iranian contacts and later deleted the correspondence. Khalife denied these allegations. He also collected a "very large body of restricted and classified material" and appears to have sent Iran at least two classified documents, one of which containing information on drones, the other on "Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance". A forged document Khalife sent to the Iranians stated that His Majesty's Government refused to negotiate the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, thereby putting her in danger. Zaghari-Ratcliffe was eventually released after an alleged UK debt of £400m dating back to the 1970s was settled. Khalife received payment from the Iranians for the information he provided them, and was documented collecting {{USD}}2,000 (£1,500) left for him in a dog faeces bag in a park in North London.

On 6 January 2022 Khalife was arrested on suspicion of breaching the Official Secrets Act and was bailed and allowed to return to his army base.

He fled on 2 January 2023, but three weeks later he was arrested and charged with terror and explosives offences and remanded to HM Prison Wandsworth, a Category B men's prison, to await his trial.{{cite news |last=Osborne |first=Samuel |date=28 January 2023 |title=Serving member of British Army charged with terror and explosives offences |url=https://news.sky.com/story/serving-member-of-british-army-charged-with-terror-and-explosives-offences-12797138 |access-date=6 September 2023 |work=Sky News}}{{Cite web |title=Former soldier who escaped prison convicted of spying for Iran |url=https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/former-soldier-who-escaped-prison-convicted-spying-iran |access-date=30 November 2024 |website=The Crown Prosecution Service}} The offences related to two incidents in Staffordshire, one in August 2021 and one in January 2023.

Khalife appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court on 7 February 2023 where details of the accusations were set out, including that he left canisters with wires at MOD Stafford on 2 January 2023 with the intent of "inducing in another the belief the item was likely to explode or ignite" and that he had accessed the Joint Personnel Administration to elicit personal information about soldiers "likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism" in 2021.{{cite news |title=British Army serviceman appears in court charged with terror offences |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-64556245 |work=BBC News |access-date=6 September 2023 |date=7 February 2023}} These offences were contrary to section 51 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 and contrary to section 58A of the Terrorism Act 2000 respectively.{{cite news |title=British army member accused of 'bomb hoax' appears in court |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jan/28/british-army-member-accused-of-bomb-hoax-appears-in-court |access-date=6 September 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=28 January 2023}}

He was discharged from the army in May 2023, following charges relating to terrorism and breaking the Official Secrets Act.

On 21 July 2023 Khalife appeared at the Old Bailey and pleaded not guilty to charges under the Official Secrets Act and the Terrorism Act.{{cite web |title=What's on at the Old Bailey on July 21 |url=https://old-bailey.com/2023/07/20/whats-on-at-the-old-bailey-on-july-21-2/ |website=Old Bailey Insight & Legal London |access-date=6 September 2023 |date=20 July 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Holly |date=6 September 2023 |title=Soldier accused of planting fake bombs escapes from prison clinging to delivery van |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/daniel-abed-khalife-escape-wandsworth-prison-b2406494.html |access-date=6 September 2023 |work=The Independent}} His trial was due to begin on 13 November 2023.{{cite news |last=Gozzi |first=Laura |last2=Seddon |first2=Sean |date=7 September 2023 |title=Escaped prisoner Daniel Khalife still on the run |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66737715 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907104428/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66737715 |archive-date=7 September 2023 |access-date=7 September 2023 |work=BBC News}}

File:Bidvest_Foodservice_SN63_RDY_(24636296991).jpg food delivery truck similar to the one used in the escape]]

On 6 September 2023 Khalife escaped from HM Prison Wandsworth in south west London, where he was being held on remand.{{cite news |last=Seddon |first=Sean |last2=Sandford |first2=Daniel |last3=Mason |first3=Chris |date=6 September 2023 |title=Hunt for terror suspect ex-soldier Daniel Khalife after Wandsworth prison escape |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66733660 |access-date=6 September 2023 |work=BBC News}} He was said to have been working in the prison kitchen and was wearing a chef's uniform consisting of a white t-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and brown steel-toe cap boots. The Metropolitan Police (Met) believe that Khalife escaped by strapping himself to the underside of a food delivery van using a material which was "made from bedsheets with clips at each end".{{Cite news |last=Sandford |first=Daniel |last2=Wilkinson |first2=Helena |date=11 September 2023 |title=Daniel Khalife: Terror suspect may have used bedsheet to escape, court hears |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66774245 |access-date=11 September 2023 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{cite news |title=Reward offered as the search for Daniel Abed Khalife continues |url=https://news.met.police.uk/news/reward-offered-as-the-search-for-daniel-abed-khalife-continues-471987 |newspaper=Mynewsdesk |publisher=Metropolitan Police |access-date=9 September 2023|date=8 September 2023}} A food supply vehicle had left the prison at 7:30 am and contingency plans for an "unaccounted prisoner" were activated at 7:50 am, including the lockdown of the prison and informing the police.{{cite news |last1=Hamilton |first1=Fiona |last2=Dathan |first2=Matt |last3=Gardham |first3=Duncan |last4=Woode |first4=David |title=Daniel Khalife: Wandsworth prison faces inquiry into terror suspect escape |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/daniel-khalife-prison-escape-wandsworth-latest-news-pnjhnqqm6 |access-date=7 September 2023 |work=The Times |date=7 September 2023}} At 8:37 am police stopped the food van in East Putney, and discovered strapping—possibly made from bedsheets—beneath it.

A police search was begun, and additional security checks at British airports and ports were put in place.{{cite news |last1=Booth |first1=Robert |title=Ex-soldier accused of terrorism flees London prison, sparking police hunt |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/sep/06/soldier-daniel-abed-khalife-accused-terror-offences-escapes-london-prison-sparking-police-hunt |access-date=6 September 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=6 September 2023}} During the night of 7–8 September Richmond Park, the largest park in Greater London, was closed while the Met undertook a search; this included using helicopters with thermographic technology to search for body heat.{{cite news |last=Rhoden-Paul |first=Andre |date=8 September 2023 |title=Daniel Khalife: Police search Richmond Park for terror suspect |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66748984 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908110311/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66748984 |archive-date=8 September 2023 |access-date=8 September 2023 |work=BBC News}} The Met said that 150 officers were involved in the search, in addition to police from other forces and officers from the Border Force.{{cite news |last1=Cobham |first1=Tara |last2=Singh |first2=Namita |date=8 September 2023 |title=Daniel Khalife: Escape 'pre-planned', says Met chief as police search Richmond Park |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/daniel-abed-khalife-escape-wandsworth-prison-latest-b2407649.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908111632/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/daniel-abed-khalife-escape-wandsworth-prison-latest-b2407649.html |archive-date=8 September 2023 |access-date=8 September 2023 |work=The Independent}} From 8 September a reward of up to £20,000 was offered for information leading to Khalife's arrest.{{cite news |last=Gregory |first=James |date=8 September 2023 |title=Daniel Khalife: Sighting of escaped prisoner reported to Met Police |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66756233 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908161741/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66756233 |archive-date=8 September 2023 |access-date=8 September 2023 |work=BBC News}}

At 5 pm on 8 September police confirmed a sighting of Khalife in south-west London on the morning of the escape. They stated that a man fitting Khalife's description was seen walking away from a Bidfood van near Wandsworth Roundabout shortly after his escape; the man then walked towards Wandsworth town centre.{{cite news |last=Hayes |first=Andy |date=8 September 2023 |title=Daniel Khalife: Confirmed sighting of escaped terror suspect, police say |url=https://news.sky.com/story/daniel-khalife-confirmed-sighting-of-escaped-terror-suspect-police-say-12957504 |access-date=8 September 2023 |work=Sky News}}

On the morning of 9 September 2023 the Met reported that Khalife had been sighted overnight in the Chiswick area of London.{{cite news |last=Durbin |first=Adam |date=9 September 2023 |title=Daniel Khalife: Police confirm new sightings in Chiswick, west London |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66762183 |access-date=9 September 2023 |work=BBC News}}

A plain-clothed officer was informed that Khalife had been seen on a bicycle on the Grand Union Canal towpath near Rowdell Road in Northolt. The officer attended, drew his Taser, and ordered Khalife to dismount the bicycle. Khalife was arrested at 10:41 am on suspicion of being unlawfully at large and escaping lawful custody, approximately {{convert|14|mi}} from HM Prison Wandsworth.{{Cite news |last=Kirk |first=Tristan |date=9 September 2023 |title=Daniel Khalife ‘may have used bedsheets to escape prison’, court hears |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/daniel-khalife-arrest-prison-met-police-london-crime-b1105953.html |access-date=9 September 2023 |work=The London Standard}}{{cite news |last1=Kleiderman |first1=Alex |date=9 September 2023 |title=Escaped terror suspect Daniel Khalife arrested in north-west London |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66763054 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909153412/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66763054 |archive-date=9 September 2023 |access-date=9 September 2023 |work=BBC News |publisher= |location=London}} In his possession was a mobile phone and a bag containing money and receipts which suggested that he had purchased clothes and credit for the mobile phone which he used to message an Iranian contact, simply stating "I wait".{{Cite web |last=McNamee |first=Michael Sheils |date=14 November 2024 |title=Daniel Khalife denies asking Iran for help after prison escape |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crez30j9nvro |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}

On 10 September the Metropolitan Police confirmed Khalife had been charged with escaping from lawful custody in relation to escaping from Wandsworth.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Harrison |date=10 September 2023 |title=Daniel Khalife charged over Wandsworth prison escape |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66768840 |accessdate=10 September 2023 |work=BBC News |publisher=}} He appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court on 11 September, where he was remanded in custody until 29 September when he will appear at the Old Bailey. Following the hearing he was taken from court to HM Prison Belmarsh, a category A prison.{{Cite web |first=Henry |last=Vaughan |url=https://news.sky.com/story/daniel-khalife-appears-in-court-charged-with-wandsworth-prison-escape-12958962 |title=Daniel Khalife escaped prison using material which may have been from bed sheets, court hears |website=Sky News |date=11 September 2023 |accessdate=11 September 2023}} On 21 September Khalife appeared in court from Belmarsh via a videolink and pleaded not guilty to escaping from lawful custody.{{Cite news |date=21 September 2023 |title=Daniel Khalife pleads not guilty to Wandsworth prison escape |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66876658 |access-date=21 September 2023}}{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=21 September 2023 |title=Daniel Khalife pleads not guilty to escaping custody at Wandsworth prison |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/sep/21/daniel-khalife-pleads-not-guilty-to-escaping-custody-at-wandsworth-prison |access-date=21 September 2023 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} On 21 December a new trial date was set to begin from 7 October 2024.{{cite web |last1=Emily |first1=Pennink |date=21 December 2023 |title=Former soldier Daniel Khalife to face trial next autumn on Iran spying charge |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/iran-woolwich-crown-court-wandsworth-old-bailey-justice-b1128444.html |access-date=7 January 2024 |website=The London Standard}}

On 7 September 2023 Alex Chalk, Secretary of State for Justice, ordered an investigation into the escape with a preliminary report being requested to be ready by the end of the week. This will include investigating the vehicle in question, whether other prisoners could enact a similar escape, and how Khalife was assigned to the kitchen, usually a valued job given to trusted prisoners, where he had access to knives and a potential escape route.{{cite news |last=Casciani |first=Dominic |date=7 September 2023 |title=Daniel Khalife: How did terror suspect break out of jail? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66743634 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907161318/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66743634 |archive-date=7 September 2023 |access-date=7 September 2023 |work=BBC News}} On 8 September Sir Mark Rowley, Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, described the escape as "clearly pre-planned", and that the police were investigating whether he was assisted in his escape by other prisoners, prison officers or people from outside the prison.

Charlie Taylor, His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons, said that there are "too many prisoners in Wandsworth for the amount of staff who are there". Inspectors also stated that "more than 30% of prison officers were either absent or unable to work their full duties."{{Cite news |last=Sabbagh |first=Dan |date=7 September 2023 |title=Prison break: how Daniel Khalife went from smiling soldier to suspected spy on the run |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/sep/07/from-plum-prison-job-to-a-mysterious-vanishing-how-the-escape-of-daniel-khalife-unfolded |access-date=9 September 2023 |issn=0261-3077}} On 9 May 2024 Taylor wrote to the Secretary of State for Justice to urge him to put the prison into emergency measures after an inspection raised concerns about ongoing failings in security at Wandsworth.{{Cite web |first=Henry |last=Vaughan |url=https://news.sky.com/story/wandsworth-prison-needs-urgent-improvement-eight-months-on-from-alleged-daniel-khalife-escape-watchdog-says-13132378 |title=Wandsworth prison needs 'urgent improvement' eight months on from alleged Daniel Khalife escape, watchdog says |website=Sky News |date=9 May 2024 |accessdate=12 May 2024}}

On 10 September 2023 Chalk confirmed that approximately 40 inmates had been transferred from Wandsworth following a review after Khalife's escape from the prison.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Harrison |date=10 September 2023 |title=Daniel Khalife: About 40 inmates moved from Wandsworth prison after escape |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66766478 |accessdate=10 September 2023 |work=BBC News |publisher=}}

On 15 September 2023, figures published by the Ministry of Justice indicated that 80 prison officers (around 39% of the workforce) did not turn up for work at Wandsworth Prison on the morning of Khalife's escape. However, His Majesty's Government said staffing levels were "above the minimum" needed.{{Cite web |date=15 September 2023 |title=Eighty prison staff absent on day Daniel Khalife escaped |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-66819565 |accessdate=15 September 2023 |work=BBC News |publisher=}}

On 11 November 2024 Khalife changed his plea to guilty for the charge of escaping lawful custody.{{Cite web |last=Sandford |first=Daniel |date=11 November 2024 |title=Daniel Khalife changes plea to guilty on prison escape charge |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ypdg5v5vvo |access-date=11 November 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} On 28 November he was found guilty of spying for Iran.{{clarify |date=November 2024 |reason=When was he charged with this crime? How did he plead? Was there a trial? What exact crime was he charged with? What evidence of spying was presented? ('Spying for Iran' is not the name of a specific crime.)}} He had contacted Iranian intelligence, and had also contacted the British security services to offer himself as a double agent.{{Cite web |last=Santos |first=Sofia Ferreira |last2=McNamee |first2=Aidan |date=15 October 2024 |title=Daniel Khalife used Facebook to make first contact with Iran, court hears |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr75kjgrr7go |website=BBC News}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c07n005n3mno|title=Daniel Khalife: Alleged Iranian spy contacted MI6 to become double agent, court hears|date=10 October 2024|website=BBC News}} On 3 February 2025 he was sentenced to 14 years and 3 months in prison.{{cite web |last1=Fatima |first1=Zahra |last2=Sandford |first2=Daniel |title=Daniel Khalife jailed for spying for Iran and prison escape |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgeke2r6zno |website=BBC News |access-date=3 February 2025 |date=3 February 2025}}

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Category:2023 in London

Category:21st century in the London Borough of Wandsworth

Category:Prison escapes in Europe

Category:September 2023 in the United Kingdom

Category:Iranian spies

Category:2001 births

Category:Living people

Category:People charged with terrorism

Category:British prisoners and detainees

Category:Escapees from England and Wales detention

Category:British people of Iranian descent

Category:21st-century British Army personnel

Category:Incarcerated spies