Daniel Khalife used bed sheets to escape from prison

The 21-year-old former solider was charged with escaping custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today, Monday, September 11. 

The court heard how Khalife allegedly escaped prison by strapping himself to the underside of a food delivery vehicle using a material “which may have been from bed sheets”.

After a three-day manhunt, Khalife was arrested on a canal towpath in west London at 10.41am on Saturday, September 9 after being pulled off a push bike by a plain-clothes counter-terrorism officer.

????Commander Dominic Murphy thanks the public for their support after Daniel Khalife, who escaped from prison on Wednesday, was arrested earlier today by Met Police officers ???? pic.twitter.com/dJpHTkNmHQ

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) September 9, 2023

Daniel Khalife escaped prison with bed sheets

Before his escape, Khalife was on remand at Wandsworth Prison after being charged with terror offences in January.

Appearing in court, the former soldier was flanked by two police officers and a dock officer.

Khalife entered the courtroom wearing a grey jumper and jogging bottoms and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.

Detailing the allegation against the defendant, prosecutor Thomas Williams said the former soldier allegedly escaped on the underside of a food delivery vehicle.

Mr Williams said Khalife is accused of strapping himself to the lorry using “material which may have been from bed sheets”.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram told the defendant he will next appear at the Old Bailey on September 29.