11 September 2023 , 13:44
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Daniel Khalife, who became the UK's most wanted man after allegedly strapping himself to the bottom of a food van to break out of prison, has appeared in court today.
The 21-year-old was remanded in custody and charged with escaping custody at HMP Wandsworth last Wednesday. He was arrested on a canal towpath in west London on Saturday by a plain-clothes counter-terrorism officer.
Prior to his alleged escape, Khalife reportedly assembled a "survival kit" to try and help him evade capture, and was spotted with a Waitrose bag in footage of his arrest. When they finally tracked him down, police said he was pulled off a push bike.
Here we take a look at the various supplies and materials Khalife allegedly used to conduct his 75-hour escape.
Bag containing phone and cash
Khalife appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court (PA)When Khalife was arrested, he had a bag containing cash and a mobile phone with him, heard Westminster Magistrates’ Court. It is not clear if this is the same carrier as the Waitrose cool bag - full of food - which was spotted during footage of his capture.
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Frank Noon, who believes he saw Khalife twice the day before he was found, also recalled seeing him "scrolling through a phone" near a cemetery. He told the Mirror: "On the bench he looked like he was asleep and had his cap covering his face. He wasn’t bothered by anyone running by.
"The second time he was just on his phone, quite engrossed on his phone. I just looked at it and thought 'that’s the guy I saw before'."
Bike and sleeping bag
The canal towpath where Khalife was arrested (PA)Khalife was caught after being pulled off a push bike, police said. Footage later shows the upturned bike near the scene of the arrest.
Eyewitness Ethan Andrews told The Sun: "The three officers had him on the floor and then five minutes later there were loads more police on the scene - some from the Territorial Support Group too. The guy had been on a bike and had a sleeping bag - he seemed to have a change of clothes."
It is not known how long he allegedly had the bike and sleeping bag for. However, Frank said he didn't notice either of these items when he believes he spotted him 24 hours earlier.
Change of clothes
Khalife is believed to have been dressed as a chef when he allegedly escaped (PA)It was said that Khalife made his way into the prison's kitchen, and was dressed as a chef - but so far it has not been confirmed whether he was working there, or had snuck in. From there, he is believed to have strapped himself to the bottom of a food truck to escape from the category B prison.
Police said he was dressed in a white t-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and brown steel-toe-cap boots at the time of the alleged escape. When he was caught, Khalife was seen wearing a white T-shirt and dark shorts.
And referring to 24 hours earlier, Frank said Khalife was wearing what he recalled as green khaki joggers, a white T-shirt and a cap.
Material 'from bed sheets'
The terror suspect is accused of strapping himself to the lorry using the material (PA)Detailing the allegation against the defendant, prosecutor Thomas Williams described how Khalife allegedly escaped on the underside of a food delivery vehicle. He said the terror suspect is accused of strapping himself to the lorry using “material which may have been from bed sheets”.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram was told the material was found underneath the vehicle by police, with clips at each end and marks which were consistent with someone having been there. Mr Ikram told the defendant he will next appear at the Old Bailey on September 29.
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