Daniel Khalife’s dramatic escape from HMP Wandsworth has reportedly led to the suspension of two prison guards.
Within hours of the terror suspect fleeing the south London prison, a former co-inmate of Khalife’s revealed exclusively to Express.co.uk that he believed the escape could only have been an “inside job”.
The prison’s protocols and staff have been placed under the spotlight in the wake of the nationwide hunt for the 21-year-old, who was eventually caught in Chiswick – a roughly 45-minute drive, or two-hour walk, from HMP Wandsworth.
Police are understood to be investigating whether accomplices helped Khalife avoid detection during the four-day search.
The guards suspended are alleged to be those responsible for overseeing the exit of a food delivery van at the jail, according to the Times.
Khalife is believed to have escaped by strapping himself to the underside of the vehicle.
A stabbing at the prison has further intensified the spotlight, as it was also revealed Chancellor Jeremy Hunt had previously raised the alarm over “extremely worrying” conditions and staff problems at the south-west London facility.
Police were called at around 3pm on Sunday to reports that a prisoner had been assaulted.
Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and a 24-year-old was taken to hospital to be treated for a stab wound.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed his condition was not life-threatening and no arrests had been made.
Meanwhile around 40 prisoners have been moved from the prison.
Just Minister Alex Chalk, speaking on Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme, said: “What I can say is in respect of Wandsworth – because I wanted to ensure out of an abundance of caution that every resource is put into that prison to get to the bottom of what happened and to ensure that security is preserved – is that some prisoners, some of those on remand, have been moved.”
He confirmed “around 40” have been moved “just while we get to the bottom of what took place”.
However, Mr Chalk didn’t discuss the nature of the offences they have been accused or convicted of.
Chief inspector of prisons, Charlie Taylor, said that “in an ideal world” Wandsworth would be shut, but “there are only just enough prisons” for the population of inmates.
Mr Chalk said that the correct protocols and security staff “were in place”. He said the question to be answered was “whether those protocols were followed.”
Renowned crime and policing expert Peter Bleksley told Express.co.uk he believed the method of escape meant substantial planning was required, stating: “strapping means planning.”
He added the escape was a huge “embarrassment” for the prison service.
Khalife is awaiting trial on charges of terrorism and suspected spying on behalf of Iran.
