Daniel Califf arrested: London police find fugitive terror suspect in Chiswick

CNN
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Officers from London’s Metropolitan Police have located and arrested Daniel Calific, the force announced on Saturday, marking the end of three days. Manhunt Wednesday for a terror suspect who escaped from prison.

Khalif was caught by a counter-terrorism officer who dragged the fugitive off a bicycle in Chiswick, west London, where search efforts had been refocused the previous day, the force said.

PA media reported that its counter-terrorism chief, Commander Dominic Murphy, was arrested on suspicion of being an ex-soldier outlaw and an escaped prisoner.

“He was actually arrested by a plainclothes officer … and he was riding a bicycle, so a pushbike, at the time, the officer pulled the pushbike over and arrested him at the scene,” Murphy told reporters.

“Once detained by the officer, he was fully cooperative and was handcuffed and placed under arrest.”

The 21-year-old terror suspect’s escape from Wandsworth prison on Wednesday sparked a wide-ranging manhunt that delayed flights and led to more checks at British ports.

He was in jail awaiting trial on terrorism charges for allegedly planting fake bombs at a military base, the PA reported. He denied all three allegations against him, the news agency reported.

Khalif escaped from prison by dressing as a chef and strapping himself to the bottom of a delivery van. By the time police found the truck two miles east of the prison, Califf was gone, and all that survived him were the strapping officers found under the van.

The incident sparked criticism of the prisons and the government, and led to the launch of an independent inquiry.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak thanked police and the British public after Khalif’s capture.

“I am very pleased with the news and my thanks to the police officers for their fantastic work over the last two days, but also to the members of the public who have come forward with numerous tips to assist the police in their enquiries. He told reporters on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi.

Sunak said the government would continue to investigate how Khalif managed to escape. “But it’s obviously very welcome news,” he said of the arrest.