Daniel Khalife appears in court accused of strapping himself under food truck to escape Wandsworth prison where he was being held for ‘spying for Iran’

Ex-British Army soldier Daniel Khalife appeared in court today accused of escaping from Wandsworth prison by strapping himself to the underneath of a food truck. 

The 22-year-old had been in jail on terrorism charges after allegedly plotting a fake bomb hoax at his army barracks at MoD Stafford and a charge of passing material to the Iranian Intelligence Services.

Khalife is said to have broken out of HMP Wandsworth last 6 September by using bed sheets to strap himself to the underside of a food delivery truck, which sparked a 75-hour manhunt.

He was arrested three days later on a canal towpath in Northolt, west London, after he was pulled off a bike by a plainclothes counter-terrorism officer.

Khalife appeared in the dock at the Old Bailey today wearing a light blue shirt and glasses to observe the hearing, which he later removed.

The 22-year-old had been in jail on terrorism charges after allegedly plotting a fake bomb hoax at his army barracks at MoD Stafford and a charge of passing material to the Iranian Intelligence Services

His eight-week trial before Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb is due to begin next month at Woolwich Crown Court.

British-born Khalife, who has Iranian and Lebanese heritage, was on remand at Wandsworth Prison ahead of his trial for breaching the Official Secrets Act and an alleged bomb hoax offence at his barracks.

He allegedly left three canisters with wires on his desk in his accommodation at MOD Stafford, also known as Beacon Barracks, on 2 January, 2023.

Khalife is also accused of committing an act prejudicial to the interests or safety of the state by collecting information that might be useful to an enemy between 1 May 2019 and 6 January 2022.

A third charge alleges he elicited information about soldiers from the MoD Joint Personnel Administration System at the barracks that was likely to be useful to commit an act of terrorism on 2 August 2021.

He also denies escape, contrary to common law.

Prosecutor Thomas Williams earlier said that on the morning of 6 September, Wandsworth prison notified police that Khalife was missing.

He had been working in the jail kitchen and ‘there were suspicions he had disappeared via a food delivery truck.’

The court heard police intercepted the delivery truck at 8.40am on Upper Richmond Road.

Police found two makeshift straps, made from material thought to be from bed sheets, with clips on each end attached to the underside of the vehicle.

Mr Williams said: ‘There was a four-day manhunt of 150 police officers per day, using resources from other police forces and government agencies.’

Khalife had been working in the kitchen of HMP Wandsworth and ‘there were suspicions he had disappeared via a food delivery truck’ on 6 September 2023

The court heard Khalife was arrested at 10.41am on 9 September after a plain clothed officer in an unmarked vehicle received reports Khalife had been spotted on a bicycle.

Khalife had in his possession a small amount of money, clothes and a mobile phone.

He returns to Woolwich Crown Court on 7 October.