Travellers face chaos as UK airports are put on alert to find suspected terrorist Daniel Khalife after he escaped prison
TRAVELLERS face chaos after UK airports were put on alert after suspected terrorist Daniel Khalife escaped prison.
Dozens of flights could be delayed as security forces across the country were put on watch for the alleged terrorist.
Police today launched an emergency manhunt for former soldier Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, after his escape this morning from HMP Wandsworth in south London.
The Metropolitan Police said: “An alert was issued by the Counter Terrorism Command earlier today in relation to Khalife through established operational briefing channels to relevant UK police and law enforcements agencies, including those at UK ports and borders.”
Airports across the UK, including those surrounding London, were on watch for the escapee – as massive queues built up at terminals.
London Heathrow told Sun Online they were still advising passengers to follow “normal travelling guidance”, including checking in two hours ahead of short flights and three before longer-haul journeys.
The airport’s X/Twitter account later posted: “Heathrow is operating as normal.
“However, due to additional security checks being carried out, waiting times for departing passengers may be longer than usual.”
London Gatwick told how extra patrols were now in place there.
And alerts have been sent out to ports and airports across the country to potentially capture Khalife – meaning extra checks for travellers including many heading away on holiday.
Gatwick, based in West Sussex, said: “Additional security measures are currently in place at London Gatwick and other UK airports and ports.
“The safety and security of passengers is our number one priority.”
Travellers told about feeling the effects of security measures as they tried to pass through airports.
One passenger told The Sun: “There is an armed border force team between the security entrance and baggage scanners at Heathrow Terminal 5 International who are pulling people over with dark hair to check their identification.”
And Richard Gaisford, from ITV‘s Good Morning Britain, posted on X/Twitter from Heathrow: “Am at LHR where some security lanes have been closed, so police can focus on every passenger travelling.
“They confirm they’re hunting for the terror suspect and say ‘today will be the safest day to travel’.”
A source at Manchester Airport was quoted by the MEN as saying: “Every single airport across the country and every terminal are doing 100 per cent checks on passengers.
“Security area got absolutely rammed – every passport, every boarding card was being checked.
“Within five minutes the queues were absolutely massive.”
The developments nationwide came after hundreds of passengers were left in huge queues at Glasgow Airport in Scotland.
Khalide is suspected to have fled from jail today at 7.50am.
Reports suggested he was working in the prison’s kitchen, wearing a chef’s uniform, before clinging to straps of a truck to escape.
Scotland Yard suggested it was “most likely” he remained in the London area.
He is said to have been clothed in a white t-shirt, red and white chequered trousers as well brown steel toe-cap boots.
The ex-soldier has been accused of planting fake bombs at a British military base.
Prosecutors say Khalife left three canisters with wires at MOD Stafford in January this year.
And a previous hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard he left the device “with the intention of inducing in another the belief the item was likely to explode or ignite”.
The full terror charges against him say he “elicited” personal information about soldiers from the Ministry of Defence Joint Personnel Administration System.
They say this was “likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism”.
The Met’s Counter Terrorism Command head Commander Dominic Murphy today said: “We have a team of officers who are making extensive and urgent enquiries in order to locate and detain Khalife as quickly as possible.
“However, the public can help us as well and should anyone see Khalife or have any information as to where he might be, then please call 999 immediately.
“I also want to reassure the public that we have no information which indicates, nor any reason to believe, that Khalife poses a threat to the wider public.
“But our advice if you do see him is not to approach him and call 999 straight away.”
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “We are working with the Metropolitan Police to recapture this prisoner and are urgently investigating how he escaped.”