A 24-year-old man has been arrested in east London on suspicion of assisting an offender in connection with the alleged escape of terrorism suspect Daniel Khalife from HMP Wandsworth. The man, who is not a prison staff member, was taken into custody by the Metropolitan police’s counter-terrorism command and has been released on bail until late April. Khalife, a former British soldier accused of terrorism offenses and breaching the Official Secrets Act, allegedly escaped from HMP Wandsworth by strapping himself underneath a food delivery van using bed sheets on September 6, 2023.

After a nationwide manhunt, he was arrested while cycling along a canal towpath in Northolt, west London, four days later. The 22-year-old is due to go on trial at the Old Bailey in October after pleading not guilty to charges, including the escape from HMP Wandsworth, as well as charges related to eliciting or attempting to elicit information about members of the armed forces likely to be useful to a person committing acts of terrorism, sharing information useful to the enemy, and devising a fake bomb.

Detective Chief Superintendent Gareth Rees stated that the arrest of the 24-year-old was the result of months of careful investigation, and inquiries into the case remain ongoing. Authorities have urged the public to refrain from reporting, commenting, or sharing information online that could prejudice the future court proceedings.