Daniel Khalife escaped from HMP Wandsworth
Police helicopters have been searching Richmond Park as the national manhunt for Daniel Abed Khalife enters its third day after the fugitive terror suspect escaped Wandsworth Prison.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed to The Independent that the search of the park for Khalife is still “ongoing” on Friday morning, with at least parts of it currently closed to the public, as officers are seen guarding the gates while helicopters circle overhead.
However, the force has said it is “absolutely possible” that Khalife - who is accused of planting fake bombs at a military base before he allegedly “graduated” to attempted spying for Iran - has already left the country. Ports and airports were put on high alert in the hours after his disappearance.
Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism commander Dominic Murphy said he was also keeping an “open mind” as to whether Khalife had received support from somebody to escape prison by clinging onto a delivery van on Wednesday.
An intelligence official told The Independent on Thursday that “all the indications are that this was an orchestrated job and not an opportunistic escape”, adding: “It is almost certain that he had some inside help from the prison.”
Meanwhile, chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor has called for the closure of Wandsworth Prison.
