orty prisoners have been moved out of Wandsworth prison following the escape of Daniel Khalife, the Justice Secretary has said.
Former soldier, Khalife, escaped from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday morning by strapping himself to the bottom of a delivery lorry after leaving the prison kitchen in a cook’s uniform.
A frantic four-day manhunt was soon launched to find the 21-year-old who was awaiting trial after allegedly planting a fake bomb at an RAF base and gathering information that might be useful to terrorists or enemies of the UK.
After confirmed overnight sightings, the Met Police arrested Khalife on Saturday morning.
Police in the Chiswick area in west London where Khalife was eventually found (Jamie Lashmar/PA)
/ PA WireSpeaking following Khalife’s arrest, Alex Chalk told Sky News that a number of prisoners have been moved while an investigation is undertaken.
He said: “Out of an abundance of caution some prisoners there, some of those on remand, have been moved (this week).
“Additional resources have of course gone into Wandsworth, so there’s additional governor support, a former governor with particular expertise in security.
“But also, out of an abundance of caution, around 40 prisoners have been moved just while we get to the bottom of what took place in Wandsworth. That is a sensible, precautionary measure.”
Mr Chalk went further to say that an investigation has looked into whether protocols were in place relating to the unloading of food from a van and searching the delivery vehicle.
“Those protocols were in place, point one,” he said.
“And point two, the relevant security staff were also in place. Plainly what we’ve yet to establish is whether those protocols were followed.”
He said he will set out the terms of reference “next week” of the separate independent investigation to ensure that the conclusions are “rock solid”.
Khalife was apprehended as he cycled through Chiswick on Saturday by a plain clothes police officer.
Commander Dominic Murphy, the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism chief, said the terror suspect “was arrested in Rowdell Road, UB5 in London on the canal towpath”.
He added: “He was actually arrested by a plain clothes officer… and he was riding a pedal cycle so a pushbike at the time, was pulled off that pushbike by that officer and arrested at that location.
“Upon being detained by the officer he was fully co-operative and handcuffed and arrested.”
Asked if police think there are other people involved, Mr Murphy said he was “open minded” about the possibility.
He said: “Clearly we are moving resources now into that investigation.
“I should say while the manhunt was ongoing, that the investigation continued the whole time and of course, as part of being open minded, if anyone did help or support Daniel in his escape, either before, during or after, they will form part of our investigation.”
