Millie Bobby Brown was supported by her fiancé Jake Bongiovi at the London launch of her debut novel, Nineteen Steps.

The special event was held at the Hackney Empire on Tuesday night, with the 19-year-old caught in the rain as she arrived.

Stanger Things star Millie looked chic in a black one-shouldered top with buckle detailing, which she tucked into matching pair of trousers and accessorised with strappy heels.

She also opted for glamorous waist-length extensions in her hair, which she wore half up and half down, to show off her statement stud earrings, with a strand separated to fall over her face on either side.

Grasping an umbrella to keep herself and her partner shielded from the shower, the actress and Florence by Mills beauty founder hung back as Jake, 21, led the way to the entrance, holding her hand.

He was dressed in brown jeans, a striped shirt and trainers as he guided his fiancée, who he proposed to in April.

Nineteen Steps is a World War II romance novel based on stories Millie’s grandmother told her as a child, and follows heroine Nellie Morris, who lives with her family in Bethnal Green during World War II, as she meets American airman Ray.

But her newfound happiness is short-lived when a tragic accident occurs during an air raid. 

The book was published on Tuesday, with Millie taking to Instagram to announce the news as she held up a copy, enthusing: ‘The day has finally come! I’m so excited to share it with you all.’

The book was penned alongside ghostwriter Kathleen McGurl, with Millie also paying tribute to her as they posed for a photo together backstage at the launch.

‘A HUGE thank you to my collaborator @kathleenmcgurl – I couldn’t have done this without you!’ she wrote in the caption.

Kathleen responded: ‘It was fabulous to chat with you before tonight’s show! I’m loving listening to you talk about the book so passionately.

‘It was a privilege working with you on this, especially sharing Nanny Ruth’s precious memories.’

During an appearance on Lorraine yesterday morning, the Enola Holmes actress also revealed her future plans for Nineteen Steps.

When host Lorraine Kelly asked the teenage star if there was a plan to make a film out of the ‘cinematic’ book, Millie confirmed that was always the plan.

‘Definitely,’ she said. ‘That was the intention behind it,’ adding it’s ‘in her nature.’

‘Naturally, I just want to create more so this is a great foundation.’

The Eleven actor said she is ‘gravitated to things that mean something to me’ and through her acting is ‘committed to moving people with what I do.’

Lorraine pointed out that the novel could potentially be made into a major ’28-part Netflix series,’ but the teenager laughed in response.

‘I’ve been there, done that, let’s just say that,’ she said – ahead of the final series of Stranger Things, currently delayed due to the Hollywood strikes.

Millie also spoke very briefly about her engagement to Jake, who is the son of musician Jon Bon Jovi.

While Lorraine pressed on whether the rock star – who has given their union his public blessing – would sing at the reception, Millie stayed coy and said simply that it was all ‘very exciting.’

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A 12-year-old girl was given detention by her school for ‘not wearing a jumper’ under her school blazer on one of the hottest days of the year.

Ruby Reid attends Rivers Academy West London in Feltham, West London, and was told off at the gates despite the 28C heat last Thursday.

Her parents Carrie-anne and David Vickers have been left angry and claim the teachers were wearing summer outfits.

The school now claims rules were relaxed later in the day after Ruby’s arrival even though she later ended up in detention.

Stepdad David, 39, said: ‘Ruby was really upset – she’s only young and doesn’t have much of a voice, so she just had to go with it.

‘It would have been incredibly easy for someone to pass out in that temperature – or even lose their life if they got too dehydrated.

‘I couldn’t believe it – I phoned up the school when she got home and was told it’s the “head’s policy” and they needed to enforce it.

‘The next day they weren’t threatening breaktime detentions, but full 90 minute detentions instead – and the head was stood at the gates enforcing it himself.

‘I can’t see any logic in it, but hearing from other parents, apparently this school has a history of this.

‘It’s just completely inappropriate.’

The school denies the 90 minute threat was issued, and claims no pupils were told they’d have to wear jumpers and blazers ‘all day’.

Rivers Academy’s website states it has ‘the very highest expectations in terms of uniform, behaviour, attendance and punctuality’.

David said he now has no choice but to lodge an official complaint against the school.

He said: ‘I don’t know what the reason is – I don’t know if the rule is intended to cause harm.

‘But in severe cases it could even have led to lives lost.

‘There are many good things about this school, but the uniform policy isn’t one of them.’

Carrie-anne said: ‘I felt angry, shocked and disgusted when I heard about it.

‘The school know these children are young and vulnerable, my daughter was essentially punished just for not wanting to put her jumper on.

‘It’s beyond belief, it feels draconian.

‘It’s not an isolated incident and it’s strange nothing is being done – if we have to be that voice to speak up for change then we will be.’

A spokesperson for Rivers Academy said: ‘At Rivers Academy we believe that our Academy uniform provides a sense of belonging and self-worth, which are central to our guiding principles. Our students take pride in their appearance and we hope that by instilling these values, we are preparing them for the professional expectations of the world of work.

‘We asked students to arrive in full uniform on the day in question but by 10am, in accordance with our protocol, we’d informed them that the Academy had moved to a “no jumper day.” This meant that all pupils could remove jumpers and blazers in the classroom so as to be able to learn comfortably in the unseasonable heat.

‘No students were told on either day by the principal or any other member of staff that they’d have to wear jumpers and blazers all day and there is no 90 minute sanction for uniform infringements.

‘Our guidelines apply to staff who lead by example. Staff members were also invited to remove jackets from 10am. It is possible that visitors to the school after that time would encounter staff without jackets.

‘Uniform is a key discipline. Our policy and our expectations are clearly set out for all pupils joining the Academy. In instances where uniform requirements are breached we are able to lend brand new or freshly laundered items which will allow students to attend lessons.’

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Thousands of homes across London have been left with low water pressure or no supply at all following an issue at Thames Water today.

The water provider has apologised to its customers, saying that a ‘power supply problem’ caused the issue.

‘We’re really sorry if you have low pressure or no water. It’s been caused by a power supply problem which has affected our Ashford and Hampton water treatment works in west London,’ a message on their website said.

‘We’re working hard to fix the issue and to get things back to normal.’

As the company revealed in an updated statement this afternoon, the power issue is fixed but ‘it’s likely to take some time for the supply system to refill and for water to fully return to the whole area’.

Is your postcode one of those affected? Here’s what you need to know…

Which postcodes are affected by the Thames Water outage?

Thames Water has said 54 postcodes in London are affected by the current problem.

These stretch across all parts of the capital, from Central London as far as parts of Croydon.

The affected postcodes are as follows:

When will the supply return to normal?

Thames Water has not given any indication as to when the supply might return to normal.

They have advised customers that they will provide further updates on their website as soon as they have more information.

You can also keep an eye on Twitter for updates here.

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Thousands of homes across London have either been left without running water or are experiencing low pressure.

Properties in the west and south west of the capital are affected, according to Thames Water.

Several schools have reportedly also been forced to close and are resorting to online learning for the day.

The water provider has apologised to its customers and says the issue has been caused by a ‘power supply problem’.

A Thames Water spokesman said on X, previously known as Twitter: ‘Following a power issue in West London some customers have no water or low pressure this morning.

‘We’re sorry for the disruption and we are working hard to fix the issue.’

The following postcodes are currently affected: SW4, SW8, SW9, SW13, SW14, SW15, SW18, SW19, TW1, TW2, TW3, TW4, TW5, TW7, TW8, TW9, TW10, TW11, TW12, TW13, TW14, TW17, W1H, W1H, W1M, W1N, W2, W3, W4, W6, W7, W10, W12, W13, W14.

MP for Twickenham, Munira Wilson, confirmed a number of schools have been unable to open this morning due to ‘lack of water’.

She said that Thames Water ‘need to sort this soon’.

Ms Wilson wrote on X: ‘I’m trying to get more information for local residents and alarmed that schools are having to close because of this issue.’

Local businesses are also understood to be severely impacted.

Thames Water added on its website: ‘It’s been caused by a power supply problem which has affected our Ashford and Hampton water treatment works in west London.’

The power supply has since been turned back on but could still take some time for the impacted areas to see a full return of water services.

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Protests have been held outside a London shop after an employee was seen allegedly strangling a woman accused of stealing.

Peckham Hair and Cosmetics on Rye Lane was forced to close after crowds of protesters filled the street earlier today.

A video uploaded to social media appears to show a man grabbing a woman and putting his hands around her throat.

The Met Police says it’s investigating.

The force was called to the shop at around 1.15pm on Monday following reports that a 31-year-old woman tried to steal items and a male employee tried to stop her from leaving.

Other reports suggest the woman was trying to return an item she had previously bought from the shop.

The woman was arrested on suspicion of assault and has since been bailed. The male employee has not been arrested.

Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh said: ‘We know people will be concerned about a video circulating online of an incident in a shop.

‘Our officers attended on Monday and continue to investigate the full circumstances of what has taken place.

‘The investigation will include reviewing the actions of everyone involved.

‘I would like to thank people in our local community for remaining calm and giving us the time to conduct a thorough investigation.

‘If you have information that may help us I would urge you to get in touch.’

A day on from the incident, the shop was forced to close due to a large protest outside.

Organisers spoke using a loudspeaker about violence against women and the Black community. People also stuck signs to the shop’s windows, calling for it to close down.

Another protest is reportedly planned for Saturday.

Regarding the protests, a Met Police spokesman said: ‘We are aware of a protest outside the shop and officers are in touch with the organisers.

‘We appeal for people to remain calm while we carry out a full investigation.’

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We all know that the housing market is… not ideal, especially in London.

So when there’s a property up for sale for £215,000, and it’s actually nice, we tend to pay attention.

This two-bedroom home for sale is part of The Water Lodges – a set of properties located on the water at Poplar Marina, which is within walking distance of the hustle and bustle of Canary Wharf.

The inside of the building is a little on the small side, but modern and finished to what looks like a really high standard.

There are also peaceful views over the water, which don’t do any harm, as well as front and back terraces positively begging for a nice table and chairs.

There is, however, a catch.

Because these water lodges are essentially houseboats, you can’t take out traditional mortgages to pay for them, so the estate agents are advertising to cash-only buyers.

That means you have to have the £215,000 at your disposal ready to go.

And while The Water Lodges include a 50-year mooring rights option, there are annual mooring fees of up to £15,000 per year.

The listing reads: ‘Located at Poplar Marina and within very close walking distance to Canary Wharf these rather special ‘water lodges’ are certain to impress.

‘Finished to a particularly high specification and offering a functional yet flexible accommodation these two-bedroom homes also come with the most fabulous water views from all rooms.’

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A drill rapper has been jailed for 27 years over a brutal gang stabbing, after a police expert deciphered his lyrics and found they contained details only one of the knifemen could have known. 

Chilling CCTV footage captured seven attackers on push bikes on a ‘ride out’ hunting for rivals in Farringdon, north London, on April 15, 2019. Two could later be seen peeling off and chasing down the 16-year-old victim, who was stabbed 19 times with Rambo-style blades and left for dead. 

Detectives found a rucksack hidden inside some bushes nearby containing DNA belonging to 26-year-old Ryan Maqsood. His sample also matched a swab taken from one of the knives inside. 

As part of the investigation, they also analysed drill tracks written and performed by Maqsood under the stage name ‘Rashy’. 

Despite the young victim, who suffered wounds to his face, chest and legs, wanting no part in the trial, Maqsood, of no fixed address, was eventually found guilty of attempted murder. 

Judge Anthony Leonard KC jailed him for 27 years at the Old Bailey. 

Detective Sergeant Katy Phipps, who led the investigation, said: ‘[The teenager] is extremely lucky not to have succumbed to his injuries. 

‘The evidence we gathered during this investigation left the jury with no doubt as to his guilt, despite the fact the victim did not wish to assist police. 

‘The drill music recovered from Maqsood’s phone included very specific details that we believe could only have been known to someone who was there when the incident took place.’ 

Bragging about the attack on one track, he rapped: ‘Aim for the lungs, intestines, kidneys, send one of them down under, Sydney. 

‘Don’t try and jump on cars, Legs and chest bro, Shave that head like Britney.  

‘Last time I stepped in Bourne bro, Carved up his face like pumpkin. 

‘Now little man gotta hide his face..he’s looking a mess I’m serious.’ 

An officer with specialist knowledge in drill music gave expert evidence in court to explain to the jury what the lyrics referred to. 

The jury was also provided with expert evidence on local gangs for further context. 

Evidence revealed that the stabbing had been motivated by a conflict between street gangs within Islington. 

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A landlord who gave his tenants four weeks to move out an East London flat returned to find a flock of around 40 pigeons had taken their place – and extensively redecorated.

The birds moved into the property after the evictees left a patio door ajar, and the droppings they landed on almost every surface have left the owner with a £15,000 bill.

Kitchen worktops, sofas, window sills, carpets and clothes are all covered with crusty guano, resulting in a scene that looks like a bizarre modern art installation.

Pest controllers brought in to handle the situation described the stench of the place as ‘overwhelming’.

They compared the flat to Mexico’s Roca Partida island, a popular diving spot that is coated in a layer of white from seabird droppings.

The landlord, who did not want to be named, admitted to the Mail Online that he should have checked his flat after the tenants vacated it.

He said his eyes ‘popped out of his head’ when he saw the mess, and he called in the London Network for Pest Solutions.

Paul Cooper, the company’s managing director, told the news site: ‘The landlord took one peek inside and called us immediately.

‘The pigeons had redecorated throughout leaving the home in a complete mess.

‘It took the pigeons just four weeks to wreck the place.’

He said the two-bed property would be ‘out of action’ for around a month, while it is ‘cleared, cleaned, redecorated and refurnished’.

In a blog post, the business pointed out that a quick post-tenancy check for pests would have cost the landlord £150.

Earlier this year, residents of the St Jude’s area of Plymouth called for action after they were also targeted by loose-bowelled pigeons.

A gang of 60 birds had been incessantly leaving their droppings on window ledges and doorsteps up and down Desborough Road, costing homeowners hundreds of pounds to fix.

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TfL has announced that a further 65km of London’s roads will have speed limits reduced to 20mph by the end of the 2023.

The move will affect roads in Bromley, Greenwich, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark and Wandsworth.

Once the new speed limits are put in place (the last of which will be installed in December) TfL will have given 140km of London roads the 20mph speed limit, ahead of its target of May 2024.

London’s walking and cycling commisssioner, Will Norman, has said that the new speed limits ‘will make a large area of south London safer and more attractive for people to live and work’.

But just which roads will be affected by new 20mph speed limits?

Let’s find out.

Which roads are affected by new 20mph speed limits?

The new speed limits will be put in place between September and December of this year.

TfL has recently launched a new road safety campaign to tackle speeding, as, accorrding to its data, more than 1,000 people in London are killed or injured by drivers exceeding the speed limit.

It said that it is lowering speed limits because ‘if you hit someone at 30mph they’re five times more likely to die than if you hit them at 20mph.’

Reducing the speed limit to 20mph in other areas of the capital has already had postive results, according to TfL data.

The data shows that collissions in the central London congestion zone area fell by 25% between May 2020 and June 2022, compared with a seasonally matched period before the limits were introduced.

Moreover, collisions resulting in death or serious injury fell by 24%.

TfL added that the statisitcs should be seen in the context of collisions across the whole of London reducing by around 10% in the same time frame.

Mr Norman said: ‘Lowering speeds is one of the most important things we can do to reduce road danger and forms a key part of the Mayor’s Vision Zero goal to eliminate death and serious injury from London’s transport network…

‘Every death or serious injury on our streets is devastating, bringing heartache and tragedy to all those involved so we will continue to work with TfL, the Met Police and London’s boroughs to make it easier and safer for people to walk, cycle and use public transport, creating a safer, greener London for everyone.’

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has previously spoken favourably about 20mph speed limits, stating that they are ‘fundamental to reducing road danger.’

The new speed limits will be enforced by the Met Police, who will also be cracking down on speeding and dangerous driving.

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The Red Arrows will appear over London today, weather permitting.

While the appearance is not part of a public display, they will be flying over the ExCel centre to mark to opening of the Defence and Security Equipment International conference – so many Londoners will get the chance to spot them.

As the heatwave recedes and autumn arrives, there are only a few opportunities left to spot the RAF’s aerobatics display team on home soil – and today brings a terrific chance to spot them over London, Kent, Essex, Norfolk and Lincolnshire.

So what time will the Red Arrows fly over London, and what will the route be?

Here is what you need to know.

Red Arrows London flypast route

The route will see the iconic red planes heading towards London from the North.

Based on their NOTAMS (flight advisory messages), the Red Arrows will take off from RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire at 11.50am today (Tuesday, September 12).

They will then fly south towards Harlow in Essex, on to Waltham Abbey, Woodford and London Docklands before returning via Bromley and Sheerness in Kent.

The route will take them out over the sea and up through Norfolk.

Where is the best place to watch?

According to ianvisits.co.uk, the best locations will be in east London near the Wanstead Flats, and around Docklands or the Thames Barries (to see the smoke trails).

If you’re in an office in Canary Wharf, head to an east-facing window.

When else will the Red Arrows appear in 2023?

The official public appearances are as follows – though if they take part in a private event, like today, there’s a chance of seeing them.

• September 14, Guernsey and Jersey Air Displays
• September 16, Imperial War Museum Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow
• September 23-24, Malta International Airshow

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The Met police have launched a fresh appeal to find a boy who went missing from south London at the age of 15.

Lee Boxell vanished on September 10, 1988, after leaving his home in Sutton to meet his friend.

Lee met up with his friend and they spent some time together shopping before parting ways at around 1pm.

The last confirmed sighting of Lee was at 2.20pm that day on Sutton High Street.

A long-running police investigation looking into Lee’s movements on the day he vanished has stretched over the three decades he has been missing.

But because there haven’t been any further confirmed sightings of Lee after all these years, police sadly believe he isn’t alive anymore.

Lee was described as a ‘good student’ who ‘loved football’ and ‘had a very happy family life’ so the line of thinking that he ran away to start a new life and changed his name is ‘absolutely not viable’, according to police.

A fresh appeal has been launched because Lee’s parents, Peter and Christine Boxell, have had to live through the agony of not knowing what happened to their son 35 years ago.

Peter Boxell said they believe Lee was murdered, and they are urging anyone with information to come forwards as he and Ms Boxell are now in their late 70s.

‘We are still hoping that someone will come forward to help find his remains, so that my wife and I can say goodbye to our beloved son before it’s too late for us,’ Mr Boxell said.

The Met said in as statement ‘they want to ensure that Lee, if he is no longer alive, is given a proper burial’.

The force shared how their investigation has led them to believe Lee visited an unofficial youth club at St Dunstan’s Church in Cheam, which was known locally as ‘The Shed’.

Lots of local children and teenagers would have spent time there and as those children will now be adults, they might have vital information they couldn’t share in the past.

Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn said: ‘While we don’t have conclusive evidence that Lee came to harm, with no sightings or credible information in 35 years we sadly believe that Lee is no longer alive.

‘Over the years we have interviewed a number of people who we believe were involved in, or know about Lee’s disappearance. When arrested, those people gave a number of conflicting accounts.

‘One 80-year-old man, who is now deceased, claimed he had “helped Lee to get away” and that he was now living away from his family under an assumed name.

‘This version of events was investigated and was found not to have been credible.

‘This man, and his associates, also claimed that they had seen Lee a year later. However, members of the public called police anonymously with information stating that he had bragged that he had buried Lee in the churchyard at St Dunstan’s church in Cheam.

‘That information led us to conduct the largest ever archaeological dig undertaken by the Met at the church yard. Sadly, that search did not find Lee and his parents continue in their desperate hope to find him.

‘Lee was a boy with a very happy family life. He was a good student who loved football. The story that he had run away, started a new life and was living under an assumed name was absolutely not viable.

‘My hope is that someone who didn’t feel they could speak to us in the past may now feel that they can come forward and share what they know.

‘At this stage of our investigation my priority is to find Lee so that he can be returned to his parents. Lee’s parents deserve answers and they deserve the opportunity to bury their much-loved son.

‘Your information could help end the suffering for Lee’s family. If you can help, anonymously or otherwise please do get in touch.’

Lee’s father, Peter Boxell, added: ‘We have not seen or heard from our dear son Lee since he went to Sutton, thirty-five years ago on September 10, 1988.

‘He was only 15 when he disappeared. We fear that Lee may have been murdered.

‘If you can help us and his sister finally know what happened and have some closure – please, do what’s right.

‘If you know where he may be, or have any information about what happened to Lee, please contact the police Investigation team on 0208 721 4005 or if you prefer, you can tell the charity Crimestoppers what you know, anonymously.

‘Once you’ve given your information you need never have any further involvement with anyone about the case. Crimestoppers can’t identify who you are and will never ask or take any personal details from you.

‘So, this really does give someone a chance to do the right thing and help ease our years of pain. We can then see Lee finally laid to rest.’

Crimestoppers are offering £20,000 to anyone who can provide information leading to the recovery of Lee’s remains.

To be eligible for this reward, the information would need to be provided to Crimestoppers, not the police.

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On the morning of September 6, former British Army soldier Daniel Abed Khalife was serving up breakfast to his fellow prisoners at HMP Wandsworth in South London.

Despite the fact he had been charged with serious terror offences, which he denies, the 21-year-old was one of the few inmates who had the privilege of working in the kitchen – generally considered one of the more pleasant jobs available.

However, he wouldn’t be doing the role for much longer.

While still dressed in his chef’s uniform, Khalife is believed to have told others he was off to unload a supplies van before slipping out one of the kitchen’s side doors at around 7.30am.

This morning, a court heard he may have used bed sheets to strap himself to the bottom of a Bidfood delivery truck, which then passed through three security gates. He was declared missing at 7.50am.

He seems to have clung on as the lorry passed through Wandsworth Common, and was spotted by a member of the public walking away from the vehicle at Wandsworth Roundabout.

Police, who were notified of the disappearance at 8.15am, stopped the truck near East Putney underground station at 8.37am – but it was already on its way back to the prison, after the driver had been called by Bidfood.

The officers only found the straps underneath.

It was the beginning of a major manhunt that gripped the nation for four days before Khalife was finally apprehended on Saturday.

The Metropolitan Police released an appeal at around 3.50pm on Wednesday, the first indication to the public that something had gone wrong.

Within a couple of hours, significant delays were being reported at Manchester, Gatwick and Glasgow airports as extra care was taken over border checks.

A spokeswoman for the Met said at the time: ‘An alert was issued by the Counter Terrorism Command earlier today in relation to Khalife through established operational briefing channels to relevant UK police and law enforcement agencies, including those at UK ports and borders.’

On Thursday, Kent Police temporarily shut the coastbound carriageway of the M20 between junctions eight and nine in order to minimise disruption from the enhanced security checks, allowing continent-bound freight to queue on the empty motorway.

Commander Dominic Murphy, the head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, confirmed the hunt was covering the entire UK although Khalife had links to north-west England and Kingston in London.

He also made an surprising statement later that day describing the alleged criminal’s ‘ingenuity’ in evading officers.

Mr Murphy said: ‘This was a really busy area of London and we’ve had no confirmed sightings in any of that information, which is a little unusual, and perhaps testament to Daniel Khalife’s ingenuity in his escape and some of his movements after his escape.

‘It’s important that we remember that we have some of the best military in the world here in the UK and he was trained.’

There was a brief false alarm at Banbury station in Oxfordshire when police arrested a man they believed to be the terror suspect – then de-arrested him when it became clear he was not.

By that point, more than 150 investigators and police staff from counter terrorism command were working on tracking down Khalife in London, with help from forces and agencies around the country.

On Friday morning, officers swooped on Richmond Park just a few miles from Wandsworth Prison, reportedly using thermal imaging cameras to try and locate the fugitive.

Investigators said they could not rule out the possibility he may have fled the country, despite the extra checks.

Mel Thomas, a retired police sergeant who appears in Channel 4’s Hunted series, said: ‘What the organisations have got against them is it’s good weather, it’s not cold at night, so even sleeping rough is not going to be uncomfortable.

‘You could happily find somewhere comfortable and, as an ex-military individual, he’ll be used to sleeping outside.’

A dog walker later told The Sun she had spoken to Khalife on a park bench at Chiswick House and Gardens on Friday, and noticed he had an injured ear that was badly stitched with fishing line.

That evening, the Met announced a £20,000 reward for information on the escapee’s whereabouts, and said they had been contacted by the person who saw him walking away from the Bidfood truck after it stopped near the south entrance to Wandsworth Roundabout.

Mr Murphy said the sighting ‘could be very significant’.

An intelligence-led search at a residential property in the Richmond area also took place that evening, but police would not confirm if it was linked to Khalife by family or associates.

As the search entered its third night, one of Khalife’s relatives said in an interview with The Times: ‘If I could talk to him, I would tell him to end this and give himself up, even though I understand he is afraid.’

Saturday morning brought a significant update from the Met, as officers carried out ‘intensive search activity’ in the Chiswick area of west London following a call from a member of the public at around 2am or 3am.

In a statement, the force said: ‘This activity comes after intelligence-led activity and some confirmed sightings in that area overnight, including calls from members of the public.’

Cars were stopped and searched, local residents were asked for their IDs and a police boat was spotted on the River Thames.

Just after 10am, there were reports the Met had scaled back their search in Chiswick – but around an hour later, the force announced they had found their man.

An initial statement said he had been arrested in Chiswick, but it later emerged Khalife had been apprehended on a canal towpath at Rowdell Road in Northolt.

A plainclothes police officer had pulled him off a bike as he cycled past, with witnesses later saying the escapee was laughing and winking after finally being caught.

He was reportedly travelling with a Waitrose cool bag and a sleeping bag.

Mr Murphy said: ‘It’s been about 75 hours since he went missing from the prison to the point of his arrest. That’s pretty quick given the challenge of trying to find this individual.’

Khalife was charged with escaping prison on Sunday, and appeared in Westminster Magistrates’ Court today where he was remanded in custody.

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An 81-year-old woman was convicted of harassment after repeatedly throwing urine onto her neighbours’ patio, it has been reported.

Janine McKinlay, 81, appeared before City of London Magistrates’ Court following a dispute with Anastasia De Brauwere Brozler, a bespoke perfumer whose home in London’s upmarket Chelsea neighbourhood adjoins hers.

Ms De Brauwere Brozler, 57, had noticed a ‘disgusting odour’ in the street-facing basement garden of her £5 million property which persisted for months.

‘Every time you opened the door this pungent smell of urine would enter the house and we could not open our window. There is also a ventilator that is permanently open that drew in the smell,’ she told the court.

‘It was absolutely disgusting. I had to put scented candles everywhere. We could not use the kitchen and I could not work there even though I need running water.’

Her husband began suspecting their neighbour after hearing the sound of liquid splashing onto the patio quickly followed by a door slamming shut.

Footage from CCTV cameras owned by other neighbours reportedly showed Ms McKinlay had been tipping out a plastic jug full of urine up to three times a day.

Ms McKinlay admitted to throwing her urine out of her door but insisted it was not aimed at her neighbours’ property or done with ‘malice’.

She told the court: ‘I have an arthritic knee and a collapsed vertebra and I cannot always get upstairs or downstairs to the toilet due to mobility issues.’

Calling the jug her ‘weapon of mass destruction’, she added: ‘It is not very ladylike, I understand that.’

She was ordered to pay more than £3,500 in costs and was handed a 12-month restraining order barring contact with the victims.

She was described as a landlord earning £84,000 a year from renting out commercial properties.

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Former soldier Daniel Khalife may have used bedsheets to tie himself to a truck when he escaped from Wandsworth Prison, a court has heard.

The 21-year-old appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this morning after arriving in armoured police van, as six Met Police officers guarded the gate.

Following extensive searches across London and other parts of the UK, Khalife was arrested on Saturday after a plainclothes police officer knocked him off his bike on a canal towpath in Northolt, West London.

Khalife had been on remand at HMP Wandsworth charged with trying to spy for an enemy state – believed to be Iran – and planting fake bombs at his barracks near Stafford when he broke out last Wednesday.

After strapping himself to the bottom of a food delivery lorry, he clung on until he was a short distance away from the prison before running off.

A massive four-day manhunt led to disruption at airports and on motorways across the country as police said his military ‘ingenuity’ would make him hard to catch.

However, Khalife was eventually recaptured only around eight miles from where he had last been seen by a member of the public.

Flanked by two police officers and one dock officer, Khalife entered the courtroom this morning wearing a grey jumper and jogging bottoms.

Prosecutor Thomas Williams said the 21-year-old is accused of ‘using the strap to support himself to escape’.

He has been remanded in custody.

The brazen escape has led to concerns over the state of security at Wandsworth and other prisons around the country.

Questions have also been asked over whether Khalife, an ex-British Army soldier accused of serious terror offences, should have been held at high-security Belmarsh Prison instead.

The day after Khalife was captured, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said that around 40 inmates of the Category B prison in South London have been moved out.

He told Sky News: ‘Out of an abundance of caution some prisoners there, some of those on remand, have been moved (this week).

‘Additional resources have of course gone into Wandsworth, so there is additional governor support, a former governor with particular expertise in security.

‘But also, out of an abundance of caution, around 40 prisoners have been moved just while we get to the bottom of what took place in Wandsworth. That is a sensible, precautionary measure.’

The Mail on Sunday reported Khalife will be transferred to Belmarsh Prison following his capture.

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MORE : Prisoner stabbed at HMP Wandsworth days after Daniel Khalife escape

MORE : Around 40 prisoners moved out of Wandsworth jail after Daniel Khalife’s escape

MORE : Daniel Khalife charged with prison escape after going on the run for four days

Brixton Academy will find out its fate and if it will ever open again at a two-day hearing which starts today.

The south London venue has been shut since security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23, and Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, were killed in a crowd crush on December 15, last year.

About 1,000 people were outside when fans without tickets tried to enter a show by Nigerian artist Asake.

‘Large-scale disorder’ ensued and crowds eventually pushed the doors open, said Gerald Gouriet KC, who represented the Met at the earlier licensing meeting.

Lambeth Council’s licensing sub-committee suspended Brixton Academy’s licence for three months – this decision was supported by the owner Academy Music Group.

But the Metropolitan Police has urged the council to strip the venue’s licence for good, much to the dismay of music lovers who want the iconic spot to stay open.

A whistleblowing security guard – known as Rohan – previously alleged that some of his colleagues would regularly take bribes from people without tickets.

They would each allow ‘a couple of hundred’ extra people into events in exchange for money, with some making up to £1,000 in a night, Rohan claimed.

He also said there was not enough security on duty on the night of Asake’s concert with only 110 members of the security team there, when there should have been 190.

A police investigation has been launched and the Security Industry Authority (SIA) has opened an inquiry into several corruption allegations made after the crush.

But many do not want to see the venue shut, with a petition to ‘save Brixton Academy’ garnering more than 100,000 signatures.

Stuart O’Brien, who started the campaign, wrote: ‘Brixton Academy is an iconic London music venue and should this cease to be so, another part of the musical landscape and history is lost forever.

‘What happened there was a tragedy, but caused by people. Bring in new security procedures including crowd control to ensure a repeat doesn’t happen.

‘But let’s not turn this venue into soulless flats as would more than likely happen in the event of permanent closure.

‘I personally have been to hundreds of gigs in my lifetime, many of them here and I have never once felt like safety was an issue! The loss of this venue would also have a devastating effect on the local economy!’

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) said it has delivered more than 20,000 representations to the council.

Last Thursday, the organisation urged followers to write to their MPs and make ‘their concerns heard loud and clear about the future of UK culture if Brixton Academy were to close permanently’.

The Academy Music Group, Asake and all campaigners have offered their condolences to those who lost loved ones in the tragedy.

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Daniel Khalife is due to appear in court charged with escaping from custody at HMP Wandsworth today.

The 21-year-old former soldier was arrested on a canal towpath in west London at 10.41am on Saturday after being pulled off a bike by a plainclothes counter-terrorism officer.

His capture followed a mass land and air search over four days after he went missing from the prison on Wednesday.

The Metropolitan Police said a member of the public reported seeing a man matching Khalife’s description walking away from a Bidfood van that had stopped near the south entrance to Wandsworth Roundabout on Wednesday morning.

Officers carried out a search in the Richmond area and although Khalife was not found there, the force received a number of calls from the public with sightings of the suspect nearby.

Police checked gardens, stopped and inspected cars and asked residents for their IDs throughout Saturday morning.

Khalife was eventually found on a canal towpath in Northolt, west London, around eight miles from where he was last seen by a member of the public.

He was on remand at HMP Wandsworth after being charged with terror offences in January.

He will face Westminster Magistrates’ Court later today.

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‘Is-is that White Hart Lane?’ I asked the man in the helmet beside me, as my fingers fumbled to get a proper hold on the scaffolding at the top of the Leadenhall Building.

I don’t have any real interest in football. What I was really interested in was the 750-foot drop in front of me, which would soon be directly below me. The stadium in the distance was just giving me something less anxiety-inducing to focus on.

‘Nah, that’s the Olympic Stadium,’ the zip line operator told me. ‘Where West Ham play.’

‘Oh, cool,’ I said. There was plenty to be distracted by, to be fair. The view was absolutely unbelievable. But it kept being clouded by the sweat running sun cream into my eye.

We can step back from the edge for a moment.

I was on that roof because I’d just completed a tower run up 42 floors of the UK’s sixth-tallest skyscraper – better known as the Cheesegrater, despite not really looking much like one.

It was all in aid of baby loss and pregnancy charity Tommy’s, the official charity of the first ever Skyscraper Challenge. You can read more about how I got involved in my last article here.

Everywhere I looked on Saturday, people were wearing eye-catching pink Tommy’s shirts or vests. For some of them, it would just be an opportunity to support a good cause. For others, it was an opportunity to express gratitude for the help they received on some very dark days.

Earlier this week, I spoke to Viki Gadsby Peet, mum to four-year-old Evie and five-year-old Seb.

Seb was born premature after Viki unexpectedly went into labour five weeks early. Thankfully, he didn’t need any special medical intervention, but they had to stay in hospital for a prolonged period for observation.

She said: ‘I suppose that’s where I first became aware of Tommy’s, and the information of what they do to support a premature birth.’

Less than a year later, the charity provided her with comfort and support once again. Evie was one of a pair of twins originally, but Viki and her husband James found out they’d lost her sibling at the 12-week scan.

‘On the one hand, you’re absolutely thrilled that you’ve got one healthy baby, but you’re devastated of course that you’ve lost another one,’ she said.

‘There’s a lot of mixed emotions going on, and again, that’s a time where I found a lot of the information Tommy’s provided very useful to help support me through that emotional journey, throughout the rest of the pregnancy with Evie.

‘Knowing there are lots of other people going through similar things I found very beneficial.’

Viki, 37, saw a sponsored post for the Skyscraper Challenge on social media and put her name down. It was only later that she found out it would be in support of Tommy’s, which was ‘like a lightbulb moment’, she said. You can find her fundraising page here.

Like me, she turned up on Saturday for the tower climb and zip wire.

It was the hottest day of the year so far, reaching beyond 30°C in the City of London. Thankfully, the stairwell of the Leadenhall Building was relatively cool, and the floor numbers on the landings seemed to be increasing fairly quickly as I pulled myself up by the banisters.

To my astonishment, when I got to the finish line at level 42, I found out I’d made it in under ten minutes – 9 minutes 50 seconds, in fact. I was overjoyed as I drank cup after cup of water, but only had time for a few quick breath exercises before I had to harness up and head to the roof.

Up there, with London stretching out all around me, I got speaking to a man whose bib said ‘Zak’s Dad’. Tim lost his son Zak on the day he was born, and in the years since, he has raised an extraordinary amount of money for various causes related to baby loss by selling replica nineties football shirts.

It turned out Tim’s day was just beginning. Having travelled over from Cornwall, he was climbing the 42 floors and zip-lining in the morning, then having a couple of hours’ rest, and climbing the 42 floors again in the afternoon before taking the alternative route down – an abseil. I was and remain in awe. His page is here.

Back to the edge.

The man in the helmet told me I needed to shift my weight slowly off the side of the building. This was easier said than done, and after pushing away – with the 750ft sheer drop underneath me – I had to bounce a bit to get the thing moving.

But soon, I was moving at two metres per second towards the Gherkin. To my right, Tower Bridge and South London. To my left, Brick Lane and North London. Behind me, the Houses of Parliament. Below me, a Rock Choir singing Take That and some very hard concrete.

It was extraordinary, a view I’ll never forget. I have no idea how long I was out there – it could have been 20 seconds or two minutes. But I was smiling the whole time.

The Skyscraper Challenge was a truly spectacular event for a charity that does truly spectacular work. If you’re able to, please support Tommy’s. You can find the donation page on their website here.

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A man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after a pedestrian was killed in a crash with a Mercedes.

Officers and emergency services were called to Harrow Road, Westminster, to reports of a collision between a blue Mercedes and a pedestrian at around 3.50am this morning.

The pedestrian, a man in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

His family have been informed, Scotland Yard said.

The driver, a man in his 20s, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs.

Road closures remain in place at the scene while police investigate.

Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to contact them on 101, quoting CAD 1453/10SEP23, or via Twitter @MetCC.

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The terror suspect who escaped prison and was on the run for four days has been arrested less than 10 miles away.

Daniel Khalife escaped HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday, September 6, after clinging to the underside of a food delivery van.

Ports and airports were on high alert over fears he could try and flee the country.

But on the morning of Saturday, September 9, Metropolitan Police confirmed Khalife had been arrested in the Chiswick area at around 11am – around seven miles away from the prison.

He was found by undercover police officers next to London’s Grand Union Canal, the Sun reports, with a sleeping bag, a bike, and a Waitrose cool bag of food.

Khalife’s exact whereabouts has been reported as Rowdell Road on the canal towpath.

Eyewitness Ethan Andrews was on his way to the gym when he spotted the arrest.

He explained: ‘I was crossing over the bridge and saw this man with cable ties around his hands.

‘One of the cops said “we’re undercover officers”.

‘I keep up with the news and I recognised him and said “is that the guy who was in prison?”, and one officer said yes.

‘I pulled my phone out and started filming. The police told me not to but how often am I going to see something like this again?

‘The three officers had him on the floor and then five minutes later there were loads more police on the scene – some from the Territorial Support Group too.

‘The guy had been on a bike and had a sleeping bag – he seemed to have a change of clothes.’

A spokesman for the Met said Khalife was arrested for being unlawfully at large and for being an escaped prisoner.

Speaking about the investigation, Commander Dominic Murphy told reporters: ‘It’s been about 75 hours since he went missing from the prison to the point of his arrest. That’s pretty quick given the challenge of trying to find this individual.

‘He was arrested yesterday for being unlawfully at large and for being an escaped prisoner.

‘In terms of the investigation, it really gathered momentum yesterday afternoon, with a number of calls from the public, but really took a different course last night, when we did an intelligence-led search in the Richmond area in the early hours of this morning.

‘Whilst we didn’t find him at that search, while we were at that search, we had a number of calls from the public over the next hour or two, giving us various sightings of him.’

Commander Murphy also added that Khalife had been pushed off the bike by an officer during the arrest – and that anyone who was found to have helped him would face justice.

He said: ‘He was actually arrested by a plain clothes officer… and he was riding a pedal cycle so a pushbike at the time, was pulled off that pushbike by that officer and arrested at that location.

‘Upon being detained by the officer he was fully co-operative and handcuffed and arrested.

‘I should say while the manhunt was ongoing, that the investigation continued the whole time and of course, as part of being open minded, if anyone did help or support Daniel in his escape, either before, during or after, they will form part of our investigation.

‘We remain entirely open minded and that will form part of our investigation. Clearly we are moving resources now into that investigation.’

Khalife was awaiting trial for charges relating to terrorism and Official Secrets Act offences.

He was accused of preparing an act of terrorism and collecting information useful to an enemy, and was allegedly working for a hostile state. He denied the three charges against him and was set to go to trial in November.

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MORE : Daniel Khalife ‘may have used bedsheets’ to help him escape Wandsworth prison

MORE : Around 40 prisoners moved out of Wandsworth jail after Daniel Khalife’s escape

MORE : Prisoner stabbed at HMP Wandsworth days after Daniel Khalife escape

Good news for Londoners as more of London’s Tube network gets internet connection.

Today, mobile phone coverage was switched on in the Central line tunnels between Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road.

Phone coverage will also be available inside Tottenham Court Road tube station’s ticket hall and escalators, as well as on the Northern line platforms.

Currently, internet connectivity is available on the Jubilee line between Westminster and Canning Town.

The Central line between Holland Park to Queensway and the Nothern line between Archway to Kentish Town also has phone coverage.

The first Elizabeth line stations that will get 4G connectivity were also named on Friday.

Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon and Liverpool Street stations on the Elizabeth line will join Transport for London’s high-speed mobile data network by Christmas.

The line’s seven other stations and tunnels between Paddington, Abbey Wood and Stratford will be completed by the end of April, with a pledge to all central London stations connected by next Spring.

TfL also announced progress with the ongoing roll-out of 4G – and even faster 5G – on the London Underground.

Commuters will be able to access the internet in the ticket halls, on the platforms and in the tunnel between stations.

‘This means Londoners and visitors can now access the latest travel information or social media, check their emails, make calls, and stream videos whilst on the move underground,’ said Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London.

As part of the ongoing roll out by major network operators Three UK, EE, Vodafone, and Virgin Media O2 (VMO2), speedy new network coverage will also 33 other stations and their adjoining tunnels.

‘We are committed to delivering this programme which will allow customers to be more connected underground and get the latest travel information and news, as well as stay in contact with work, friends and families while travelling on our network,’ said Andy Lord, London transport commissioner.

Earlier this year, some Northern Line and Central Line stations were among the first on the Tube network to receive 5G as part of a wider rollout. 

MORE : Murder investigation after man stabbed to death near London Underground station

MORE : Where can you use Wi-Fi, 4G and 5G on the London Underground?

Captured terror suspect Daniel Khalife was ‘either extremely lucky or very smart’, a former British Army officer with security expertise said after his headline-making escape.

Dr Patrick Bury believes that the runaway, a former soldier, is likely to have had help in breaking out of Wandsworth jail strapped to the underside of a food delivery van and remaining on the run for three days.

A nationwide manhunt was underway after his escape on September 6, but he was detained around 11am on September 9.

The spotlight remains on how Khalife, who is accused of trying to spy for an enemy state, thought to be Iran, was able to escape the Category B prison hidden underneath the Bidfood van in the first place.

Dr Bury, a former air assault infantry Captain, said: ‘Daniel Khalife is either extremely lucky or very smart, and if it’s the latter it’s likely he’s had a lot of help. He has managed to escape from Wandsworth prison by attaching himself to the bottom of a vehicle like the character in Cape Fear.

‘This is a smart move because he would have known that none of the CCTV cameras on the route would pick him up and he must have clocked that they would not search under the vehicle.

‘Despite the huge scale of the manhunt, which includes searching Richmond Park, he hasn’t been seen since, which again would show his awareness of London’s CCTV, and the use of police helicopters with thermal systems used at night. As a former Army member he might know to do basic things to hide, while changing his appearance and getting out of his chef’s uniform would just be common sense.’

Khalife was based at MoD Stafford where he is thought to have been a Royal Signals Corps soldier and to have worked as a computer engineer.

He is said to have joined the Army in 2018 before being discharged in May, four months after being charged with terror offences following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command. The base, also known as Beacon Barracks, is home to the Royal Corps of Signals 1st Signal Brigade, the Defence Electronics Agency, the RAF Joint Helicopter Command’s Tactical Supply Wing and No 22 Group Air Force cadets.

Dr Bury, a security and defence specialist at the University of Bath, said: ‘He may be more at home in the wilderness or in a place like Richmond Park, but I wouldn’t read too much into his military background, as we haven’t been told which unit he was in.

‘If he is a Signals soldier, which hasn’t been confirmed, as we only know he was at their base in Stafford, then he will have been selected on the basis that he is bright and resourceful.

‘My gut instinct is that, rather than acting on a whim, he has been very smart and has probably had some help.

‘Imagine if the escape is unplanned; how do you know where the van is going to stop and what CCTV will be in the area? How would you even know where you are? It’s quite an exceptional escape, so he’s either incredibly lucky, or there is more to it.’

There have been no publicly disclosed sightings of Khalife since his escape on the morning of Wednesday, September 6, while he was dressed in a cook’s uniform through his job in the jail’s kitchen.

More than 150 police officers and staff worked on the manhunt, with increased security at ports and borders.

Dr Bury highlighted Khalife’s possible accomplices in the audacious escape as a crucial piece of the puzzle.

‘His next moves will depend on what his objectives are,’ Dr Bury said.

‘His family and friends are likely to be being watched very carefully.

‘They’ll know they could have up to 14 years in prison hanging over them if they assist him, if he ends up being convicted of being a terrorist.

‘However my feeling is that he isn’t acting alone.

‘He is said to have had a relationship with Iran, so that is one angle, but we don’t know the nature of any contact he may have had. We can maybe read into the fact that by placing him in Wandsworth, a Category B prison, they thought the nature of the relationship was pretty low.

‘Maybe they were right, maybe they were wrong, maybe it’s a mess-up.

‘It’s a case of wait and see.’

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, referred to Khalife’s military background when he spoke to reporters yesterday.

Cdr Murphy said: ‘This was a really busy area of London and we’ve had no confirmed sightings in any of that information, which is a little unusual and perhaps testament to Daniel Khalife’s ingenuity in his escape and some of his movements after his escape.

‘It’s important that we remember that we have some of the best military in the world here in the UK, and he was trained.

‘He was a trained soldier – so ultimately he has skills that perhaps some sections of the public don’t have.’

The police are looking at ‘everything’, including whether Khalife was assisted by prison guards, other inmates or people on ‘outside the walls’, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told LBC today.

Khalife had been facing charges including leaving fake bombs at a military base and stealing personal information about soldiers from the Ministry of Defence’s administration system ‘likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism’.

He also faced an allegation that he had breached the Official Secrets Act by acting against the ‘safety and interests of the state’.

Rishi Sunak told reporters at the time that the police were working ‘day and night’ to bring in Khalife.

Speaking from the G20 summit in New Delhi, the prime minister said: ‘I know people will be anxious about it but police are working very hard to recapture the individual concerned and the justice secretary has initiated an internal inquiry into the circumstances around his escape.’

MORE : Police probe whether fugitive ‘Iranian spy’ escape was ‘inside job’ as search turns to park near where family lived

Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact josh.layton@metro.co.uk

An inmate who worked alongside Daniel Khalife in the kitchens at HMP Wandsworth has revealed the terror suspect claimed he was ‘going to be famous’.

The 21-year-old broke out of the southwest London jail on Wednesday morning by fixing himself underneath a lorry that was delivering food to the prison.

It has emerged he had a 65-minute window to disappear before police caught up with the Bidfood lorry he had strapped himself to four miles away from the prison in Putney.

Detectives launched a nationwide manhunt but they fear the fugitive may have had external help and could be anywhere in the world now.

Former inmate Chris Jones, 53, told the BBC that he prepared food at the kitchens in HMP Wandsworth while Khalife would unload grocery deliveries from lorries.

He added that Khalife had been brought in as a vulnerable prisoner and that he worked with a number of other inmates in the kitchen.

Mr Jones was released from the prison in June. He was acquitted after being on remand there for seven months but has now been cleared of conspiracy to blackmail and works as a roofer.

He described Khalife as ‘quite down to earth and up for a laugh’ but added that he didn’t appear to be ‘a criminal mastermind’.

Mr Jones told the BBC: ‘He [Khalife] did seem like an odd sausage. One lunchtime he came in saying that he was going be famous. I told him: ‘I think you’ve got on the wrong bus, mate.’

‘He would come to work with a comb and mirror constantly checking his appearance, although I can’t say I thought much of it.’

When asked about how easy he thinks it is to escape from HMP Wandsworth, Mr Jones said he was ‘surprised but not surprised’ about what Khalife has managed to do.

He said they ‘always used to joke’ about jumping in the food lorry and driving off, but added that there are a lot of security staff around the kitchen at the prison so he’s surprised Khalife actually got away with securing himself under the lorry.

Mr Jones added that a member of staff would stand by the lorry ticking off goods as they were unloaded, and no-one could move around freely. He said the staff would log a move if you went from the kitchen to the coffee shop, for instance.

But Mr Jones also said that ‘mistakes were made’ at the prison sometimes because of ‘staffing issues’.

He described how one time the whole prison was put on lockdown because it was believed a prisoner had escaped.

But it turned out the person had been freed the day before, but their release hadn’t been registered properly.

So, in that sense, Mr Jones said he wasn’t surprised that ‘someone slipped up’ or perhaps that there wasn’t ‘enough people to staff the kitchen’.

An independent report into HMP Wandsworth released in September 2022 found there was a ‘staffing crisis’.

The report said: ‘Significant staffing problems are adversely affecting the delivery of a consistent regime. Although technically fully staffed, over 30% of staff are non-operational on a regular basis, for a number of reasons, rising sometimes to over 40%.

‘With an increasing number of more volatile young prisoners, and incidents of violence at alarming levels, the recruitment, training and retention of appropriately skilled and well-motivated staff is essential. The board is very concerned that this is not happening.

‘Yet again, the conditions which prisoners are confined, often two to a cramped cell, are inhumane and degrading.’

Mr Jones said he believed the staffing problems were due to these ‘diabolical conditions’ at the prison.

Sharing an example of how he was impacted by the staff issues while he was an inmate, Mr Jones said there was one point where he wasn’t allowed to leave his cell for two weeks even for a shower or exercise because staff ‘couldn’t or wouldn’t’ open his cell door.

The Prisons Service has said that maintenance work is being carried out at Wandsworth prison to help improve its safety.

The Met Police are continuing to search for Khalife and are urgently requesting the public’s help.

In a statement on Twitter they said: ‘We continue to appeal for the public’s help locating Daniel Khalife who escaped from Wandsworth prison yesterday.

‘Commander Murphy, who’s leading the investigation, has asked for anyone with information that may help us to call 999 urgently.’

Metro has contacted HMP Wandsworth for a comment.

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MORE : How Daniel Khalife managed to escape London prison minute-by-minute

MORE : Who is Daniel Abed Khalife? Ex-British Army soldier who escaped from Wandsworth prison

MORE : Fugitive Daniel Khalife ‘is either extremely lucky or very smart’ after ‘Cape Fear’ escape

Daniel Abed Khalife had just over an hour to disappear completely before police caught up with his escape vehicle.

The former soldier, 21, slinked out of Wandsworth prison clinging to the underside of a lorry on Wednesday morning.

Scotland Yard has revealed he had a 65-minute window between the van leaving the gates and when it was stopped and searched by police four miles away.

Here is a minute-by-minute account of how he escaped.

First thing in the morning, Khalife serves breakfast to inmates at HMP Wandsworth.

He is wearing his chef’s uniform, which consists of a white shirt, red and white chequered trousers and steel boots.

While he is supposed to be working, Khalife slips outside the kitchen and manages to climb underneath a Bidfood grocery lorry, which is parked just outside the kitchen to make a routine delivery.

He uses a makeshift strapping to secure himself underneath the lorry, which police suspect he carried with him from the kitchen.

The lorry then makes to leave the prison at around 7.30am, the driver apparently totally unaware of the stowaway.

It drives 250 yards along the road within the walls through the prison and is waved through a total of three checkpoints en route to the exit.

Two internal security gates had to be opened to allow the lorry through.

The lorry is waved through, past guards and CCTV cameras, with no-one thinking to check underneath the vehicle.

It departs the prison at the main gate at 7.32am.

The lorry then continues on its route through the roads of south London.

Exiting from the main gate at HMP Wandsworth, the lorry turned right onto Heathfield Road, a residential street, then left and left again up the A214 Trinity Road towards the River Thames.

It then turned left along Old York Road and left again to join the A205 South Circular road towards Putney.

Continuing on its journey, the lorry was finally stopped at the A205 junction with Carlton Drive in Putney.

Khalife could have slipped away at any point on this route.

The escapee wasn’t discovered missing until 7.50am, at which time prison officers launched an urgent search for him. So he immediately had an 18-minute head start.

And it wasn’t until 8.15am, 43 minutes after Khalife left the prison under the lorry, that police were alerted to his escape.

The lorry driver was also alerted to what had happened by his company and was ordered to turn around and drive back towards the prison.

Then at 8.37am, police officers finally caught up with the lorry outside a coffee shop, but all they find is the remnants of the strapping that Khalife used to secure himself to the vehicle.

In a statement, Scotland Yard counter-terror commander Dominic Murphy said: ‘We searched it, but we found no trace of him. But we did find strapping that meant he had been underneath.’

The Met Police have confirmed there have been no sightings of Khalife by members of the public, leading to speculation that he may have been picked up by an accomplice in another vehicle.

There is no suspicion attached to the Bidfood driver and they have been co-operating fully with the investigation.

Police issued an all-ports alert and widened their search, confirming that one area they were focusing on was Kingston-upon-Thames, around four miles from where the lorry was stopped by officers.

But Mr Murphy also added that the fugitive could be anywhere by now.

The Met Police is continuing to search for Khalife and is urgently appealing for the public’s help.

In a statement last night, the Met said: ‘We continue to appeal for the public’s help locating Daniel Khalife who escaped from Wandsworth prison yesterday.

‘Commander Murphy, who’s leading the investigation, has asked for anyone with information that may help us to call 999 urgently.’

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Police have released details of the 2.3-mile route from which fugivite terror suspect Daniel Khalife might have begun evading capture on foot.

The 21-year-old former British Army soldier is believed to have strapped himself to the bottom of a delivery van which left HMP Wandsworth at 7.32am on Wednesday morning.

He was nowhere to be seen when the vehicle was apprehended at 8.37am near a Waitrose supermarket in Putney.

Detectives traced its exact route and are appealing for anyone who might have seen it at the time to get in touch.

Mr Khalife, who was awaiting trial on terror charges, is said to have been wearing a cook’s uniform when he fastened himself underneath the Bidfood van.

After passing two security checks, the van is said to have turned right onto Heathfield Road.

It then took two left turns, which would have been made in a short space of time: one onto Magdalen Road, followed by another onto Trinity Road (A214).

The van then drove straight along Trinity Road for around 1.3 miles towards Wandsworth Roundabout, according to the Met Police.

This section of the route could have taken anywhere upwards of 4 minutes depending on traffic and passes through Wandsworth Common.

It includes a few long stretches along leafy pathways with low footfall and minimal CCTV coverage, though with few traffic lights and a 40mph speed limit they may have been challenging points to start fleeing on foot.

At the roundabout, the van took the first exit onto Swandon Way, where it travelled a short distance before taking the first left onto Old York Road, which begins with one set of traffic lights next to a small green.

After another short drive down the road, it encountered its first section of busy high street as it passed Wandsworth Town rail station, where there is usually high traffic and footfall at that time of day.

From there, the vehicle then stayed on streets which would likely have also been very busy the time.

It took a left onto Fairfield Street, before taking one more turn onto Wandsworth High Street.

It then continued straight as the street turns into West Hill, before bearing right as it turns into the Upper Richmond Road.

Police stopped the van near the road’s junction with Carlton Drive, which is near East Putney tube station.

Many of the 150 officers involved in the search have scoured around this route.

They have also been searching the Kingston area, where Mr Khalife is known to have connections, and on Thursday night shifted their focus onto Richmond Park.

Officers guarded entry and exit points while two helicopters equipped with heat-seeking cameras combed its 2,400 acres from above.

Khalife’s mum and sister are said to have lived in a flat on the edge of the park until a few years ago.

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has said the fact the 21-year-old was able to ‘strap himself onto the bottom of the wagon’ showed his escape was ‘clearly pre-planned’.

Asked if police are looking into whether it was an ‘inside job’, he told LBC Radio: ‘It is a question.

‘Did anyone inside the prison help him? Other prisoners, guard staff? Was he helped by people outside the walls or was it simply all of his own creation?’

Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism commander yesterday said the lack of confirmed sightings is ‘testament to the ingenuity’ of the fugitive.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE : It sounds like the plot of a B list movie – so how did a flight risk terror suspect escape from prison on the bottom of a delivery van?

MORE : Police warn Daniel Khalife’s military ‘ingenuity’ may make him harder to catch

MORE : Who is Daniel Abed Khalife? Ex-British Army soldier who escaped from Wandsworth prison

Police have not ruled out the possibility escaped terror suspect Daniel Khalife’s HMP Wandsworth prison break may have been an ‘inside job’, the Metropolitan Police’s Commissioner said today.

Sir Mark Rowley said his audacious escape from the Wandsworth jail, clinging to the underside of a food delivery van, on Wednesday, September 6 was ‘clearly pre-planned’.

It comes as the nationwide manhunt enters a third day, with searches overnight centred on Richmond Park in London. Officers guarded entry and exit points while two helicopters equipped with heat-seeking cameras combed its 2,400 acres from above.

Khalife’s mum and sister are believed to have lived in a flat on the edge of the park until a few years ago, Sky News has reported.

The former soldier, accused of spying for Iran among other offences, was in his cook’s uniform when he slipped out of the prison gates a few miles away.

Speaking to LBC, Sir Mark said: ‘It is clearly pre-planned, the fact that he could strap himself onto the bottom of the wagon.’

He added it was ‘unlikely to be something you do on the spur of the moment’.

Asked if police are looking into whether it was an ‘inside job’, the commissioner said: ‘It is a question.

‘Did anyone inside the prison help him? Other prisoners, guard staff? Was he helped by people outside the walls or was it simply all of his own creation?’

He called it ‘extremely concerning’ that Khalife is ‘on the loose’.

Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism commander said yesterday it is ‘testament to the ingenuity’ of the 21-year-old that there have been no confirmed sightings since Wednesday’s breakout.

Dominic Murphy said he was keeping an ‘open mind’ as to whether Khalife had received support from somebody to escape prison and whether he had managed to leave the country.

A source close to the investigation told MailOnline: ‘If I was him I’d be hundreds of miles away from Wandsworth but we have to be certain he’s not on our doorstep.

‘The van he was in was a couple of miles from Richmond Park so it has to be searched – and from the air is the easiest way.’

They added that the park is expected to open as normal later on Friday morning, ‘which is a sign they haven’t found what they were looking for’.

The lorry Khalife is believed to have strapped himself to left HMP Wandsworth at 7.32am on Wednesday. He was declared missing at 7.50am.

Police were notified at 8.15am and the lorry was stopped on Upper Richmond Road, near to the junction of Carlton Drive, at 8.37am.

CCTV footage later emerged of the van driving along a road in London after it had left the prison.

Khalife is not visible in any of the images, including one clip filmed within 200 yards of the prison gates, which sources suggest could indicate he dropped off the van as soon as it left the walls.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Mr Murphy said: ‘This was a really busy area of London and we’ve had no confirmed sightings in any of that information, which is a little unusual, and perhaps testament to Daniel Khalife’s ingenuity in his escape and some of his movements after his escape.

‘He was a trained soldier – so ultimately he has skills that perhaps some sections of the public don’t have. He’s a very resourceful individual, clearly, and our experience of him shows that, so nothing is off the table with him at the moment.’

The Justice Secretary confirmed an independent investigation will take place following Khalife’s escape.

Alex Chalk told MPs two urgent reviews would also take place regarding the categorisation and placement of all HMP Wandsworth prisoners and all those in custody charged with terrorism offences.

Wandsworth prison’s performance was rated a ‘serious concern’ and watchdogs had issued a string of warnings about the jail in the past year before Khalife escaped.

John Podmore, a former governor at HMP Brixton and HMP Belmarsh, told the BBC Radio 4’s World At One he believed Khalife should have been held at maximum security Belmarsh, where terrorist prisoners and those accused of such offences are often detained, rather than Category B jail Wandsworth.

Mr Podmore said: ‘My view is that he should have been at Belmarsh.

‘It’s much more suited to the levels of security that someone like this – charged with, not convicted – needs. I can’t understand why he wasn’t at Belmarsh.’

One former inmate at HMP Wandsworth, who worked alongside Khalife in the prison’s kitchens, said the escapee had struck him as ‘odd’ and had told him he was ‘going to be famous’.

Chris Jones, 53, told BBC London: ‘He did seem like an odd sausage. One lunchtime he came in saying that he was going be famous. I told him: “I think you’ve got on the wrong bus, mate”.’

Mr Jones, who the BBC reported was released in June after being acquitted after seven months on remand, said he was ‘surprised but not surprised’ by Khalife’s escape.

He added: ‘We always used to joke about that lorry; jump in it and drive off, but there was a lot of security staff around the kitchens so it is a surprise he got through there.’

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

He has denied the three charges against him.

He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and brown, steel toe-cap boots, the Metropolitan Police said. He is described as slim and 6ft 2in, with short brown hair.

His escape prompted extra security checks at major transport hubs.

Junctions eight and nine of the M20 were temporarily shut on Thursday due to the enhanced security checks – and to allow freight heading for mainland Europe to queue on the empty section of the motorway.

Mr Murphy previously said there was ‘no reason to believe Khalife poses a threat to the wider public’ but urged people not to approach him and to call 999 if they spotted him.

Khalife has links to the West Midlands and Kingston in London, but Mr Murphy said the hunt was covering the whole of the UK.

He was previously stationed at the Ministry of Defence’s Beacon Barracks in Stafford.

A man was stopped by police at Banbury train station in Oxfordshire on Thursday but Scotland Yard said it was not Khalife.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Almost exactly one year ago on September 15, my alarm went off at 4am and I wondered what on Earth I was doing.

I was exhausted after working days and nights on the coverage of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who died aged 96 on September 8, 2022.

But I’d decided it was the time to embrace what is still possibly one of the most quintessentially British phenomenons of all time – The Queue.

In case you were living under a rock at that time, The Queue was a gargantuan line of mourners waiting to file past the late monarch who was lying in state for four-and-a-half days.

It snaked a length of 10 miles (16km), and people waited up to 24 hours to get inside Westminster Hall for a momentary glimpse of the royal coffin.

Around a quarter of a million people are estimated to have paid their respects, and the fervour surrounding the ritual reinforced a globally held stereotype: that Brits love queueing.

The Queue was not without controversy – with This Morning presenters Holly Willoughby and the now-disgraced Phillip Schofield being accused of ‘queue-jumping’ by using media passes to get into Westminster Hall.

But of course, because I’m British, a great queuer, wanted to be part of a piece of history and well – for journalism, I gave it a go too.

What I didn’t expect from The Queue was to make lasting connections and have strangely fond memories of the entire experience.

I joined the back of the line at around 6am and was queuing for around four-and-a-half hours before reaching the front, which appeared to be pretty good going compared to some.

There was not a not a lot to do during those hours of waiting, so naturally – after we all woke up a bit – those of us in The Queue together started to chat, and eventually swapped contact details to stay in touch (sadly, I didn’t manage to catch David Beckham).

So one year on and with a new monarch, I decided to see how the people I queued with are now, and what their memories are of that historic time.

Author Andrew Halas, 71, found the time to talk to me fresh from writing his second children’s book, after having recently published the first when we met in the line.

Reflecting on September 15, he told Metro.co.uk: ‘I remember not sleeping very well that night because I had to catch the earliest train possible to get to London – as the stories of the long queues were now everywhere.

‘When I got to the end of The Queue down at Westminster Bridge, a steward said you’ll still have another four hours of queuing left.

‘Could that be possibly true? As it turned out we queued for around six hours in total. Had I come the following day that time could have tripled or even quadrupled!’

He said everyone was ‘surprisingly friendly’ with ‘no moaning or groaning’ about the length of time it was taking.

‘It was all very well mannered, respectful of the occasion,’ Andrew added.

‘There was a bond of camaraderie descending upon us and that feeling of a shared experience for one and all.

‘Everyone appeared to be aware of the historic nature of the day and was looking forward to it. It was a magical day despite its deep reverential significance over the loss of our Queen.’

Sarah McKeon, 31, spoke to me having just returned from a holiday in France.

‘I have some really fond memories of being in The Queue for the lying in state,’ the charity worker told Metro.co.uk. ‘In particular getting to know the people we queued with, and how people from all over the world came to pay their respects.

‘It was really special and I’m glad that I got to experience it. I still have the wristband from the day.’

Walking through the door and into Westminster Hall was a moment I will never forget. From the hushed silence to the glittering crown jewels on top of the coffin, every part seemed momentous.

Andrew, who I was stood with as we viewed the coffin, added: ‘I experienced the changing of the guard in the Great Hall with all the formality of the military process.

‘I was standing directly in front of the Queen’s coffin mounted on its raised platform at that moment, and it was a mesmerising spectacle.’

The Queen’s funeral, just a few days later on September 19, also had a ‘lasting impact’ on him.

‘I watched it with utter fascination in the knowledge that I was watching something so historic,’ he said.

In the last year, Andrew said he has missed the Queen’s ‘integrity’.

He explained: ‘Since I lived my entire life with one solitary monarch I always had that feeling of constancy about British life. The Queen was there and somehow it always felt very reassuring.

‘No person in my lifetime who presided in public office has done more to promote Britain and its core values than the Queen.’

In the past year we’ve also seen the coronation of King Charles III – a once-in-a-lifetime event for many. Andrew would have been very young when the Queen was crowned, and wouldn’t remember it.

‘I very much doubt that I will ever see another somehow,’ he said. ‘A very historic moment – all that pageantry and history rolled into one spectacular event.

‘Even the military parades are done with such panache that they don’t look overtly militaristic. I don’t know of any country in the world which could lay on a performance like that.’

Sarah added: ‘I thought the coronation was also really interesting to watch especially as some of the rituals have been going for a thousand years.

‘I think Charles did a great job in it and in his reign so far – he definitely learned from the best.’

Andrew said he doesn’t ‘envy him as at his age to take on the office of state’, but thinks he ‘will take his duties seriously’ throughout his reign.

‘Charles is slightly older than I am, so I have seen his grow and mature,’ he explained. ‘He’s made mistakes and perhaps isn’t a perfect role model.

‘The Queen was young when she started her reign and could learn and adapt. Its not that easy when you are in your senior years. I wish him well.’

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Escaped prisoner Daniel Khalife’s military experience may ‘make his apprehension harder’, police have warned.

The Metropolitan Police have confirmed 150 counter-terrorism officers are searching for Khalife, who escaped from Wandsworth prison on Wednesday, September 6.

It is believed the 22-year-old, who was awaiting trial relating to terrorism and Official Secrets Act offences, strapped himself to the underside of a delivery van.

But the force admitted the lack of sightings is a ‘testament to the ingenuity of Khalife’.

The Met’s counter-terrorism commander, Dominic Murphy, told reporters it was ‘unusual’ that there had been no confirmed sightings, before praising the UK for having ‘some of the best military in the world’.

He also said he was keeping an ‘open mind’ as to whether Khalife had received support from somebody to escape prison and whether or not he had managed to leave the country.

Commander Dominic Murphy said: ‘Since yesterday, over 150 officers and staff have been working around the clock on apprehending Khalife.

‘We have issued a nationwide alert that has resulted in increased security at our ports and borders, however currently there have not been any confirmed sightings.

‘I recognise and am fully aware of the impact these measures are having on the public. We are working to ensure as minimal disruption as possible.’

Police have also revealed the exact route of the food delivery van, confirming it turned onto Heathfield Road, and left onto Magdalen road after leaving the prison gates.

The van then turned left onto Trinity Road (A214) up to the Wandsworth Roundabout. It took the first exit onto Swandon Way (A217).

It then turned left onto Old York Road (past Wandsworth Town station) then left onto Fairfield Street, right onto Wandsworth High Street (A3) staying straight ahead onto West Hill and then on to Upper Richmond Road (A205).

Police have been seen stopping vehicles along the M20 earlier today to conduct extra searches.

The force is focusing its search in the London area, as well as the Kingston area, where Khalife is known to have connections.

Khalife is described as 6ft 2ins tall and was last seen wearing a prison-issue chef’s uniform of a white T-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and brown steel toe cap boots.

He was accused of preparing an act of terrorism and collecting information useful to an enemy, and was allegedly working for a hostile state. He denied the three charges against him and was set to go to trial in November.

His escape has been slammed as ’embarrassing’ for prison bosses, while residents this morning told Metro how they are fearful he may still be nearby.

The Metropolitan Police have said he poses a ‘low risk’ to the public but people have been urged not to approach him and to call 999 instead.

Mr Murphy said Khalife ‘could be anywhere in the country at the moment and we are mindful of the risk of him potentially leaving the country’.

The Prison Service is working with the Metropolitan Police to ‘urgently investigate’ how he escaped, and an investigation into why a former soldier accused of terrorism was not held in a prison with the highest security level is ‘under way’.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE : Who is Daniel Abed Khalife? Ex-British Army soldier who escaped from Wandsworth prison

MORE : Wandsworth locals fear escaped prisoner is ‘hiding in gardens’ – but one insists ‘this happens all the time!’

MORE : It sounds like the plot of a B list movie – so how did a flight risk terror suspect escape from prison on the bottom of a delivery van?

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced that free school meals will be offered to every child at state primary schools in London in the 2023/24 academic year.

With the cost of living crisis continuing, free schools meals are often a lifeline for families, and experts say they can save upwards of £440 per year, per child.

Food costs have rocketed in recent months, and are showing no signs of falling, so the offer of free school meals for London’s state primary pupils will be welcomed by many.

But how do you get them? Do you need to register? And what can you get if you’re outside the capital?

Here is what you need to know.

How to claim free school meals

All children attending state primary schools in London should automatically be enrolled to receive free school meals for the 2023/24 academic year, under the emergency measure announced by Sadiq Khan.

However, parents in London whose children already qualified for free school meals under the existing government scheme should continue to apply as before.

Your school should be in touch to ask for the information they need to plan the number of meals they’ll need to make, and to cater for dietary requirements.

There’s no obligation to have the free meals, and children will still be allowed to take a packed lunch – rules on these are set by individual schools.

In the rest of England, free school meals are provided for all children in Reception class, Year 1 and Year 2 of state schools – but to take up the offer you need to register your interest with your local council.

Older children may be able to get free school meals if parents receive any of the benefits listed below, but if you don’t qualify for these and are struggling financially, you can ask your school or local authority about eligibility.

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit – if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

In Scotland, free school meals are offered to all children in Primary 1-5 at local council schools, and in other years for those on certain benefits.

In Wales, you can check eligibility for free school meals with your local council.

Those in Northern Ireland can apply if receiving certain benefits.

Sadiq Khan said: ‘We’re deeply concerned by the number of primary school children going hungry in London’s classrooms.

‘Eligibility criteria for the Government’s existing free school meals offer is strict, which means many parents/carers and children who need this helping hand have been missing out.

‘As someone who received free school meals myself, I’m incredibly proud that we’re able to step up and provide this crucial lifeline…I firmly believe that every child deserves the chance to be able to grow up healthy and thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances.

‘But for this to happen, children must be able to access healthy, nutritious meals.’

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New photos show escaped Wandsworth prisoner Daniel Khalife in his army uniform before he was sent to jail.

The 22-year-old suspect escaped from jail HMP Wandsworth after strapping himself to the bottom of a food delivery truck on Wednesday, September 6.

An international manhunt is underway for the terror suspect from London, with police seen stopping vehicles along the M20 earlier today to conduct extra searches.

He was awaiting trial for charges relating to terrorism and Official Secrets Act offences, and questions are being asked over whether he was being held at the appropriate facility.

Mr Khalife is described as 6ft 2ins tall and was last seen wearing a prison-issue chef’s uniform of a white T-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and brown steel toe cap boots.

Khalife’s escape has been slammed as ’embarrassing’ for prison bosses, while residents yesterday told Metro how they are fearful he may still be nearby.

The Metropolitan Police have said he poses a ‘low risk’ to the public but people have been urged not to approach him and to call 999 instead.

He was accused of preparing an act of terrorism and collecting information useful to an enemy, and was allegedly working for a hostile state. He denied the three charges against him and was set to go to trial in November.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, confirmed all police forces and UK border points had been put on notice.

He said although counter-terror officers have deployed across London, where the search has been focused, Mr Khalife ‘could be anywhere in the country at the moment and we are mindful of the risk of him potentially leaving the country’.

The Prison Service is working with the Metropolitan Police to ‘urgently investigate’ how he escaped, and an investigation into why a former soldier accused of terrorism was not held in a prison with the highest security level is ‘under way’.

Professor Ian Acheson, a former head of security at the jail, said the escape was ‘at best’ a ‘catastrophic system failure’. 

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Thursday, he said: ‘Well, at best, this is a catastrophic system failure that actually starts with the allocation of Khalife to Wandsworth and ends with a terror suspect working in a prison kitchen of an establishment in crisis (and) escaping in a vehicle. 

‘So, it’s incredibly embarrassing for the prison service but it’s not entirely surprising given what we know about what’s going on Wandsworth at the moment.’ 

Questions have been asked why Khalife was being held at the category B prison rather than a high-security jail, like Belmarsh.

Speaking to Sky News, former Scotland Yard detective Peter Bleksley said Khalife ‘undoubtedly’ should have been in a category A prison.

He said: ‘He has clearly been put in the wrong place at the wrong time and been able to escape.

‘There’s a lot of people with very embarrassed red faces I would imagine today and they need to be held to account.’

Khalife is said to have made his way to the prison’s delivery area still in his chef’s uniform after serving breakfast to fellow inmates shortly before 8am yesterday. 

An insider told The Sun: ‘He slipped under the delivery van dropping off groceries at the kitchen and strapped himself under the vehicle. 

‘After the food supplies were unloaded, the van drove back out through the main gate and was given a cursory inspection before being waved through. Then he disappeared into thin air.’ 

Ex-Met Police commander John O’Connor compared the escape to ‘something which could have happened at Colditz rather than a modern prison’.  

He told the newspaper: ‘It makes the prison service look like a laughing stock. It is utterly ridiculous he managed to escape so easily with such a basic old-fashioned ploy.’ 

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Humiliated prison bosses are under intensifying pressure to explain how a terror suspect managed to escape through the front gates while strapped to the bottom of a food delivery truck.

Daniel Khalife’s ‘Colditz-style’ flight from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday, September 6 – while still wearing his chef’s uniform – has been called ‘embarrassing but not surprising’ by a former head of security at the south London category B jail.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk told the Commons yesterday that an independent investigation will take place into the escape, including why the known flight risk was not held in a high security prison.

He also told MPs that two urgent reviews will look at the categorisation and placement of all HMP Wandsworth prisoners and all those in custody charged with terrorism offences.

Mr Chalk confirmed that ‘strapping’ was found underneath a delivery van, which he added may indicate Khalife held on to the underside of it in order to escape.

He added: ‘The early indications are that the security posts were manned in Wandsworth at the time of this incident. Now we need to know that having been manned, what went wrong.’

Outlining what happened, Mr Chalk told MPs: ‘At approximately 7.30 yesterday morning, a vehicle which had made a delivery to the prison’s kitchen left HMP Wandsworth.

‘Shortly afterwards, local contingency plans for an unaccounted prisoner were activated and in line with standard procedure the police were informed.

‘The prison was put into a state of lockdown while staff attempted to determine Daniel Khalife’s whereabouts.

‘The vehicle was stopped and searched by police after the alert was raised.

‘Strapping was found underneath the vehicle which appeared to indicate Daniel Khalife may have held onto the underside of it in order to escape.’

Mr Chalk said he had spoken to prison service leaders immediately after Khalife’s escape to establish what known about it.

He said: ‘I made clear then and I reiterate now that no stone must be left unturned in getting to the bottom of what happened.

‘Who was on duty that morning? In what roles, ranging from the kitchen to the prison gate? What protocols were in place? Were they followed?’

Professor Ian Acheson, a former head of security at Wandsworth, said Khalife’s escape was ‘at best’ a ‘catastrophic system failure’.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘It’s incredibly embarrassing for the prison service but it’s not entirely surprising given what we know about what’s going on Wandsworth at the moment.’

Ex-Met Police commander John O’Connor compared the escape to ‘something which could have happened at Colditz rather than a modern prison’.  

He told The Sun: ‘It makes the prison service look like a laughing stock. It is utterly ridiculous he managed to escape so easily with such a basic old-fashioned ploy.’ 

Experts have said Khalife should have been held at the high security HMP Belmarsh in south-east London.

Reports suggested he had been moved from there to Wandsworth, but Mr Chalk denied that was the case.

Speaking to Sky News, former Scotland Yard detective Peter Bleksley said Khalife ‘undoubtedly’ should have been in a category A prison.

He said: ‘He has clearly been put in the wrong place at the wrong time and been able to escape.

‘There’s a lot of people with very embarrassed red faces I would imagine today and they need to be held to account.’

He said police will be hoping Khalife is working alone because he will likely need to steal food and clothing, increasing the chances he will draw attention to himself.

But he added: ‘If this is pre-planned and he is supported by a network of fellow minded criminals then of course he could have cash, shelter, change of clothing, false passport and may already have left the country.’

People living close to the prison have spoken of their fears that the former British Army soldier could be ‘hiding in their gardens’.

Richard Mbuesi, 52, said he was at work when Khalife escaped and only heard the news when he returned home yesterday night.

He lives just a stone throw away from the prison, telling Metro: ‘When you hear something like this has happened it does make you worried. I know I live close to a prison but you don’t think anyone will actually escape.

‘He could be anywhere right now and that is what I am worried about.’

Margaret Small, 73, who lives on nearby Loxley Road said she was worried that Khalife could be hiding in her garden.

She told Metro: ‘How did this happen? I’m not even sure if I should be at home, I hope he isn’t anywhere near here. He could be in our garden sheds, you just don’t know where he could be hiding.’

The escape prompted extra security checks at major transport hubs, including airports.

Kent Police also confirmed junctions eight and nine of the M20 were temporarily shut on Thursday due to the enhanced security checks – and to allow freight heading for mainland Europe to queue on the empty section of the motorway.

Khalife, who was awaiting trial after allegedly planting a fake bomb at an RAF base and gathering information that might be useful to terrorists or enemies of the UK, was discharged from the Army in May 2023. He has denied the three charges against him.

He was last seen wearing his cook’s uniform, a white T-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and brown, steel toe-cap boots, police said, and is slim and 6ft 2in, with short brown hair.

The head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, Commander Dominic Murphy, previously said there was ‘no reason to believe Khalife poses a threat to the wider public’ but urged people not to approach him and to call 999 if they spotted him.

Responding to Mr Chalk’s statement for Labour, shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood urged Mr Chalk to ‘get a grip’ of the criminal justice system.

She said: ‘It simply beggars belief that a man being held on suspected terror charges was able to escape a prison by clinging to the bottom of a food delivery van.

‘The simplest question for the Justice Secretary today is how on earth was this allowed to happen?’

Downing Street said the Prime Minister has confidence in the Justice Secretary over the handling of a prison escape and rejected blame for the incident being apportioned to cuts to the prison service.

Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman did however admit there was a need for more staff at the prison.

Khalife has links to north-west England and Kingston in London but Mr Murphy said the hunt was covering the whole of the UK.

He was previously stationed at the Ministry of Defence’s Beacon Barracks in Stafford.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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