Daniel Abed Khalife went missing from HMP Wandsworth just before 8am, but how is an escape from prison defined?

According to Justice Data , externala prisoner "escapes from prison if they unlawfully gain their liberty for 15 minutes or more".

It can also be considered an escape in the following ways:

• Breaching the secure perimeter of a closed prison
• Overcoming the control of escorting staff and leave the escort, the van or the building if taken off-site (for example, if a prisoner is taken to hospital)
• If a prisoner escapes for less than 15 minutes but commits an offence in that time it is recorded as having made an escape.

The BBC's Home Affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford reports that prison escapes have been rare in recent years, with five since 2017 and fewer than 20 since 2010.

HMP Wandsworth is a men's local prison and is classed as category B with a capacity of 1,371. It also has a category C resettlement unit and is one of the largest prisons in the UK.

Category B prisons tend to hold those on shorter sentences, un-sentenced prisoners and prisoners on remand awaiting trial. Category C prisons are meant to offer education and training to prisoners.

For the last few years Wandsworth has been overcrowded, holding 60–80% more prisoners than it was designed for.

The building opened in 1851 and was originally called The Surrey House of Correction.

Wandsworth was designed to prioritise the separation of inmates through a panopticon, external design, with a central hub and separate spokes, keeping prisoners apart.

Image source, PA Media

The government must "urgently" explain how terror suspect Daniel Abed Khalife managed to escape from HMP Wandsworth, Labour says.

New shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood said: "It's right that the police are given space to recapture this suspect.

"But Rishi Sunak needs to ensure there is no wider risk because his zombie government lacks a grip on the criminal justice system."

A fresh statement from the Port of Dover reports "some delays" at the border "due to a police matter".

The delays, it says, are down to enhanced checks on outbound traffic at the port as is happening elsewhere in the UK.

"Our standard travel guidance remains unchanged and we will keep passengers updated if they can expect any alteration to their journey," Dover's statement concludes.

Delays of around 30 minutes have been reported at Manchester Airport due to extra security checks after terror suspect Daniel Abed Khalife escaped from prison, the PA news agency understands.

A spokesman said: "Our security teams work hard to ensure the safety and security of all at Manchester Airport and carry out important checks set by the UK government."

Chris Mason
Political editor

The BBC understands that the escaped terrorism suspect, Daniel Abed Khalife, managed to get out of Wandsworth Prison by strapping himself to the underside of a food delivery van.

It is thought Khalife was working in the prison kitchens at the time and may have been dressed in a chef’s uniform.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has held what was called an “urgent call” with the prison governor and other senior prison service officials to “seek reassurances about security at the prison".

Airports have introduced additional checks after an alert was issued to UK border points following the escape of Khalife from HMP Wandsworth.

London's Heathrow Airport confirmed to BBC transport correspondent Katy Austin that it was among those to have introduced more thorough checks, but wouldn't give any further detail.

It also says these checks will have a minimal impact on passengers.

A London Gatwick spokesperson said: “Additional security measures are currently in place... we apologise for any delays passengers may experience."

George Bowden
Live reporter

More on that statement from the Ministry of Defence that confirmed Khalife was discharged from the Army in May.

We asked if this was a longstanding policy and a spokesman explained that, where charges are severe enough and a person is held on remand, the Army discharges them for not being able to fulfil their contract.

In the last few minutes we have had a statement from the Ministry of Defence.

In it, an Army spokesperson says Khalife is a “former soldier” and outlines the charges he faces under the Terrorism Act 2000 and Criminal Law Act 1977.

An alert was issued to UK ports and airports over Daniel Abed Khalife's escape from HMP Wandsworth, the Met Police says amid reports of long queues at border points.

In a new statement, the force says:

George Bowden
Live reporter

Daniel Abed Khalife is a 21-year-old former soldier who had been based at the MoD Stafford military base – also known as Beacon Barracks.

He disappeared from the barracks on 2 January after an alleged bomb hoax, a court heard, before he was arrested a few weeks later on 26 January.

A prosecutor told Westminster Magistrates Court on 28 January there had been “active efforts to look for him” and he was “arrested in or near his car”.

After that court appearance, he was held at Belmarsh Prison. He was not released on bail and it is currently unclear when he was transferred to Wandsworth.

Khalife appeared in court on 28 January, 17 February and 21 July, according to the PA News agency archive.

By July he was at Wandsworth, appearing for his court date that month by video link.

He was due to face a trial of up to six weeks at Woolwich Crown Court from 13 November.

Police have been unequivocal in their advice to the public: if you see Khalife, do not approach him and call 999 immediately.

Here’s the full statement from Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command:

Image source, Met Police

Good afternoon,

You join us as police launch a manhunt for terror suspect Daniel Abed Khalife, who has escaped from HMP Wandsworth.

Khalife, 21, was awaiting trial after being accused of leaving fake bombs at a military base while serving as a soldier

He is 6ft 2ins (1.88m) tall and was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and brown steel toe-capped boots, police said.

Police have urged the public not to approach him and to call 999 immediately if they see him.

Stick with us as we bring you the latest updates.