Confirmed sightings of wanted terror suspect Daniel Khalife in Chiswick area
The force is urging the 21 year old to give himself up
Last updated 9th Sep 2023
Police searching for the missing terror suspect Daniel Khalife, say there has been a confirmed sighing in the Chiswick area of London overnight.
The former soldier is believed to have 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.
There is now a large police presence in Chiswick, with the force cdarrying out "intelligence-led activity". The force has also received a number of sighting reports overnight, including from members of the public.
Commander Dominic Murphy, the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism chief, says the force is now closing in on Khalife, and he has been urged to "give himself in".
The force is offering a £20,000 reward for anyone with information that leads to the arrest of the former soldier, 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.
He was discharged from the Army in May.
Speaking to The Times, a close relative of Khalife said he was a "very, very intelligent, easygoing and kind boy" who had changed in recent years - even going missing in the weeks before he was charged.
They told the paper: "If I could talk to him, I would tell him to end this and give himself up, even though I understand he is afraid.
"Two years ago he was quite happy; he said he never wanted to leave, he said they were good people, and then something happened last year."
In the latest update, the Metropolitan Police say: "We can confirm that police involved in the search for Daniel Khalife are this morning, 9 September, focusing their efforts in and around the Chiswick area.
"This activity comes after intelligence-led activity and some confirmed sightings in that area overnight, including calls from members of the public.
"Officers remain in the Chiswick area and are planning to carry out further intensive search activity there through the day."