Daniel Khalife a ‘latter-day Houdini’ who fellow lags will ‘likely idolise’

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    Recently escaped prisoner Daniel Khalife could be admired by his fellow inmates as they "idolise him" for his attempt to break free from prison.

    The 21-year-old former British Army alumni was caught by a plain clothes police officer after four days on the run following his escape from HMP Wandsworth.

    His escape from behind bars, where he is believed to have clung to the undercarriage of a van, has prompted security expert Professor Anthony Glees to consider the impact it will have on fellow inmates.

    READ MORE: Moment Daniel Khalife was confronted by plain clothes cop and 'pulled off bike'

    Professor Glees, speaking to the Daily Star, said: "We don't know if Khalife had assistance from inside Wandsworth but we do know he had no material assistance from the outside. That's a huge relief.

    "Yet despite being a lone 'wolf' he managed to evade some of the UK's counter-terror police (our smartest cops) for four days, never more than five miles from Wandsworth prison, and able to cross the Thames, despite being the most wanted man in Britain."

    Khalife, who was held behind bars for allegations of information gathering to enemies of the UK, may consider himself a "a latter-day Houdini.

    He was discharged from the British Army in May 2023 after allegedly planting a fake bomb at an RAF base and gathering information that might be useful to terrorists or enemies of the UK.

    He is accused of eliciting or trying to elicit information that could be useful for a terrorist on August 2, 2021 as well as breaching the Official Secrets Act by gathering information that could be useful to an enemy between May 1, 2019 and January 6, 2022.

    He appeared at the Old Bailey in late July where he denied the charges against him. His trial is due to start at Woolwich Crown Court on November 13.

    Professor Glees fears prisoners may now idolise the escapee.

    The professor explained: "This in itself is a cause for anxiety as other prisoners are likely to idolise him which is not what we want.

    "I think Khalife will now regard himself as a latter-day Houdini.

    "All the MET had was CCTV and self-evidently that was not sufficient because in the end it was the public who appears to have found him.

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