Fugitive terror suspect Daniel Khalife spotted as police confirm sighting
Police hunting for escaped terror suspect Daniel Khalife have swamped the Chiswick area in south-west London after intelligence-led activity and some confirmed sightings overnight, the Metropolitan Police said. Police now believe the UK's most wanted man is wearing a black baseball cap, T-shirt and dark bottoms as their search moves focus.
The Metropolitan Police said officers would be in Chiswick to carry out “intensive search activity” throughout the day. Officers have been stopping and checking cars in the area and cops have been seen asking residents for their IDs and looking in boots of cars on Church Street and Chiswick Lane South. Armed police officers have also been searching up and down the road, according to reports from the scene. A police boat can also be seen on the River Thames close to the roads and police dogs have also been at the scene.
Territorial Support Group vans and unmarked police cars had been spotted in the area early on Saturday. Chiswick resident Brenda MacDonald said she had seen “loads of vans” and helicopters as police searched the area. The 78-year-old told reporters: “I guessed it was something to do with (Khalife) because of him landing in Wandsworth. It is not far to get here. They have got to catch him because it was silly enough that they let him get out.”
Armed police in the Chiswick area in west London as the hunt for terror suspect Daniel Khalife enters its fourth day (PA)A Chiswick resident has said he is going to keep his “eyes peeled” for the wanted man. Will Lewis lives on Chiswick Lane South where the police are searching for the former soldier. The 23-year-old said: “I heard he had been seen around west London and we have all said he could be around here. We saw the description of him so we are going to keep our eyes peeled. It’s clearly developing quite quickly. It’s a really nice area. There are lots of people just going about their daily lives, running. It’s very safe, I have never seen any disturbance around here. It is usually quiet as well.”
In a statement, the force said: “This activity comes after intelligence-led activity and some confirmed sightings in that area overnight, including calls from members of the public.” The force said Khalife is believed to be wearing a black baseball cap, black t-shirt and dark-coloured bottoms, carrying a small bag or case.
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Ex-soldier Daniel Abed Khalife is believed to have made his getaway from Wandsworth prison while dressed as a chef (Sky News)The statement added: “We urge members of the public in that area to remain vigilant and call 999 immediately should they see Khalife, or if they have any information that could assist the search. Whilst we advise members of the public not to approach Khalife if they see him, we still assess that he does not pose a threat to the wider public.”
The manhunt has been going on for four days now, since the 21-year-old broke out of Wandsworth prison. It is believed the former soldier, described as slim, 6ft 2in (1.9m), with short brown hair, strapped himself to the underside of a food delivery truck to get past guards. In a sighting at the Wandsworth roundabout Khalife was reportedly spotted by a member of the public crawling out from underneath it before walking in the direction of Wandsworth town centre.
Police from the TSG in the Chiswick area in west London (PA)Dominic Murphy, the Met's Counter Terrorism Commander, says the sighting was one of several "key lines" of enquiry the police were following, adding the force had received 100 calls from the public and the Wandsworth Roundabout sighting "could be very significant.” He added: “This remains a fast-paced and dynamic investigation, but I want the public to know that a large number of officers are working extremely hard to locate Khalife.”
Met police spent last night making door-to-door enquiries across London while a police helicopter scoured the south of the city from the air. Meanwhile thousands of hours of CCTV are being reviewed by specially trained officers in a bid to spot the missing man. The Met have also said they are working with other forces in the manhunt.
A Met Police statement read: "The Met is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information that leads to the arrest of Daniel Abed Khalife, as detectives investigate a sighting of him near Wandsworth Roundabout.
"Khalife escaped from Wandsworth Prison on Wednesday morning. The search for him remains a significant operation led by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command. More than 150 of the Met’s counter terrorism officers and staff, with support from colleagues across the Met and in other forces, have been working at pace around the clock, making extensive enquiries to try and find Khalife."
Pictures of the clothes worn by Khalife during his escape have been released, showing a white shirt and red checked trousers, presumably the kitchen uniform he was working in at the time of his escape. However latest updates from the Met indicate he has changed his outfit, cops now say he was seen wearing a black baseball cap, T-shirt and dark bottoms.
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