Imran Chowdhury of Chingford, east London has been charged with assisting Daniel Khalife after he escaped Wandsworth Prison in September 2023. The Metropolitan Police reported that Chowdhury was arrested in January 2024 and charged in December. He is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, according to the authorities. Khalife managed to escape by strapping himself to the underside of a food delivery van.
After a four-day manhunt, the former British army soldier was apprehended in London. In November 2024, he was found guilty of escaping from prison as well as spying on behalf of Iran. A month after Chowdhury’s arrest, another 25-year old woman was detained in eastern London for aiding Khalife after his escape. On Monday, the Met Police declared that she will not face any further action.
Khalife’s escape from Wandsworth prison was dramatic, as he pulled off the daring escape by essentially hiding under the delivery van driving through the prison’s gates. The incident could not have been done without assistance from someone who had access to the van. It is expected that the trial of Chowdhury will provide further details as to the exact nature of his involvement in the escape plot.
Both Chowdhury and the woman’s involvement serve as a cautionary tale highlighting the need for heightened security measures to prevent garish prison escapes. It is unclear what punishments Chowdhury or Khalife may receive upon sentencing after their respective criminal trials
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