A former British soldier, Daniel Khalife, alleged to have escaped from HMP Wandsworth, in south London, was arrested three days later on a west London canal towpath. The plain clothes detective sergeant, who was involved in the arrest recounted how he congratulated him on being caught. The officer added that Mr Khalife “flinched” when he saw the officer’s Taser, but did not “have a chance to stop” because of the speed he was moving. He said he grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him off his bike onto the ground, adding that Mr Khalife complied and was handcuffed.
On the day of the arrest, Mr Khalife was seen in a McDonald’s, and was found with a number of items including a mountain bike, a Waitrose bag with a phone, receipts, a diary and about £200 in notes. He faces charges contrary to the Official Secrets Act and Terrorism Act, and is accused of perpetrating a bomb hoax, which he denies. Jurors were told that Mr Khalife collected sensitive military information for Iran.
The Met Police officer recalls how Khalife was coming towards him on the footpath riding his bike. He was sure it was Daniel Khalife, so he told him he was under arrest. The officer added that it was quite a fast-moving situation, making use of his Taser to arrest Khalife.
Prosecutors had told jurors that Khalife “quite deliberately escaped” after being escorted to the kitchen where he had a job. His absence was discovered during a headcount and then all movement in the prison was suspended, the jury was told. Mr Khalife, who was brought up in Kingston, south-west London, by his Iranian-born mother, joined the Army in September 2018, two weeks before his 17th birthday, the court heard.
The trial continues, and Mr Khalife has denied all charges
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