Daniel Khalife: Soldier accused of prison escape delivered package to Iranian agents in Turkey, court hears
A former British soldier who is accused of escaping from prison while on remand charged with passing secrets to Iran “delivered a package” to his handlers on a trip to Turkey, a court has heard.
Daniel Khalife, 23, is accused of collecting and sharing sensitive information with foreign agents over more than two years between May 2019 and January 2022 after joining the army just before his 17th birthday.
The court heard that months into his first post with the Royal Signals, based at Beacon Barracks, in Stafford, he offered to stay in the military for more than 25 years and do what they asked.
He contacted MI6 saying he wanted to be a “double agent” and later told police his contact with the Iranians was all a double bluff, a jury has been told.
Woolwich Crown Court has heard he picked up £1,500 in a dog poo bag from Mill Hill park in Barnet, north London, in August 2019 and travelled to Istanbul a year later, having originally planned to go on to Iran.
Prosecutor Mark Haywood KC said Khalife flew with Turkish Airlines and stayed at the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel, between 4 and 10 August 2020.
Pictures found on his phone show him inside and outside the hotel, while in an audio message Khalife apparently reported what happened to a third party, the court heard.
Daniel Khalife allegedly escaped from Wandsworth prison. Pics: Met Police/PA
Khalife, whose mother is from Iran, said they “were supposed to meet in your country” but “we went to Turkey and the plan kind of went sour, um, they didn’t plan it properly”.
“I delivered a package for them,” he added.
The prosecutor said it “clearly shows that one of the reasons or one of the charges taken by Khalife on this visit was to deliver a package”, and that he wanted to “hand over information in whatever form to his interlocutors in Iran”.
On his return to the UK, Khalife took pictures of a Selex Sentinel phone handset, hardware made for use by the UK’s most specialist forces, and apparently sent it to an Iranian agent calling himself “David Smith”.
In one chat, Smith said, “We are so loyal to our friends. We can work together a lot of years”, and Khalife demonstrated his “long term support and commitment”, said Mr Heywood.
Khalife replied: “Absolutely, I won’t leave the military until you tell me to. 25+ years.”
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He also talked of having stolen a unit that enables and marshals cryptography and was told by Smith: “We’ll pay you what you want in our country. We look forward to seeing you in Tehran.”
The prosecutor said by this stage Khalife’s contact with the Iranians had “escalated” and he was “delivering material… a telephone, crypto, names of personnel and details to order for as long as they wanted”.
The court heard he was deployed to Fort Hood in Texas between 3 February and 30 April 2021, where he was given “NATO Secret” clearance, the second highest level below “Cosmic Top Secret”.
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Mr Heywood said he remained in contact with his Iranian handlers even while he was in the US, where it appeared to escalate, and continued on his return to the UK as he gathered more information.
This is said to have included a spreadsheet showing the promotion results from corporal to sergeant for the British Army for 2021 to 2022, including details of special forces soldiers.
Jurors have heard that once the police had caught up with Khalife, and he had been released on bail, he absconded from his barracks, leaving canisters and wires on his desk, to give the appearance of an explosive device and cause alarm.
When he had been remanded into custody at Wandsworth prison pending trial, he allegedly escaped and went on the run but was caught after a “short but intense and nationwide search”, a jury was told.
Khalife, who grew up in Kingston, southwest London, denies a charge of committing an act prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state under the Official Secrets Act between 1 May 2019 and 6 January 2022, alleging he gathered information that might be useful to an enemy of the UK.
He has also pleaded not guilty to a charge under the Terrorism Act of eliciting information about armed forces personnel on 2 August 2021, perpetrating a bomb hoax on or before 2 January 2023 and escaping from prison on 21 July last year.
The trial continues.
England and Scotland fans have found out where their World Cup group games will be played when the tournament kicks off in June.
England, who are in Group L, will begin their tournament against Croatia in Dallas at 4pm EST (9pm BST) on 17 June. They will then go on to face Ghana in Boston at 4pm EST (9pm BST) on 23 June and Panama in New Jersey, New York, at 5pm EST (10pm BST) on 27 June.
Scotland are in Group C, and their first match will be against Haiti in Boston at 9pm EST on 13 June (2am GMT the following morning).
They will go up against Morocco also in Boston at 6pm EST (11pm GMT) on 19 June and then Brazil in Miami at 6pm EST (11pm GMT) on 24 June.
Fans are expected to rush to sort their travel and accommodation plans now that they know where and when the matches take place.
Read more: Unapologetically political – a World Cup draw like no other
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England and Scotland learn World Cup fate
Wales and Northern Ireland have yet to find out if they will qualify.
Wales must face a play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff, then either Italy or Northern Ireland, if they are victorious.
If they beat these play-off opponents, they will secure their place in Group B alongside Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
However, Northern Ireland will also be vying to guarantee their spot in the same group if they can beat Italy and then either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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UK
World Cup 2026 – who England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will play
Scotland and England now know who they will face in the group stage of the next summer’s world cup.
But the fates of Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Wales won’t be determined until they compete in pre-tournament play-off matches in March.
England are in Group L along with Croatia, Panama and Ghana. Their first match will be against Croatia, who beat them in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Pic: Reuters
Scotland’s first match will be against Haiti, in Group C.
Brazil and Morocco are the other Group C teams – both countries were also in the same opening group as Scotland in the 1998 World Cup in France.
Trump and Infantino at the World Cup draw
Wales have yet to find out if they will qualify as they must face a play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff, and then either Italy or Northern Ireland, if they are victorious.
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If they can overcome these play-off opponents then they will secure their place in Group B along with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland. But Northern Ireland will also be vying and hoping to guarantee their spot in the same group if they can beat Italy and then either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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‘Bring it on!’: Scotland fans react to World Cup draw
The Republic of Ireland also need to get through the play-offs first and are paired against the Czech Republic for their semi-final. Should Ireland win that match, they will need to beat either North Macedonia or Denmark to get to the finals where an opening group containing joint hosts Mexico, South Africa and South Korea awaits.
This was a World Cup draw like no other. Crafted less for the teams but for one man.
The choice of venue. The creation of a new trophy. The closing music act.
Donald Trump was lavished with the adulation he craves by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and feels others unfairly deny him.
Knowing how much being overlooked by the Nobel Committee hurt the US president, there was Mr Infantino with FIFA’s newly-created Peace Prize to hand over. And a medal for Mr Trump to wear.
“This is truly one of the great honours of my life,” he said. “And beyond awards, Gianni and I were discussing this. We saved millions and millions of lives.”
This was all on the stage in front of an audience who turned up to find out who they will be playing at the World Cup.
England handed an undaunting route past Croatia, Panama and Ghana. Scotland paired with newcomers Haiti before tricky reunions from their last men’s World Cup in 1998 against Brazil and Morocco.
Pic: Reuters
But the show before the draw could even begin – presided over by Rio Ferdinand – took almost as long as a football match, at 87 minutes after the noon kick-off was delayed.
There was a walk of self-promotion to complete – “I guess they have to wait” – before taking his seat in the Kennedy Center. Or the Trump Kennedy Center as the president takes to calling the venue picked 1.5 miles from the White House.
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England manager Thomas Tuchel reacts to draw
“It was falling apart,” he said, delaying the walk into the auditorium. “And now it’s, it’s pretty much back.”
Mr Infantino could only watch on, beaming, at his friend.
“We had a dead country,” Mr Trump went on, “and now we have the hottest country anywhere in the world”.
There was the awkwardness of being reminded, before receiving the peace accolade, about threats to launch military strikes on Venezuela to stop the drugs trade.
“I did settle eight wars, and we have a ninth coming,” he swatted away the question. “Which nobody’s ever done before. But I want to really save lives. I don’t need prizes.”
But FIFA knew how much he wanted more gold for the collection with the prize.
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What draw means for England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
And for all the mockery and disdain targeted at FIFA, how many sports would relish having the US president spend several hours attending a procedural event determining the placing of teams in groups for a tournament?
How many would dish out the same flattery to secure direct lines to the leader of the nation staging their championship?
Many have benefited from Mr Trump’s stardust and swagger being attached to this spectacle.
Even Port Vale’s most famous fan – Robbie Williams – secured a walk-on role, exceeding his profile this side of the Pond.
And the Village People are reaping the rewards of becoming the unlikeliest of Trump hype acts.
The festivities ended with eyes fixed back up to the presidential seating and the YMCA dance being performed.
This was an afternoon that dispelled any pretence that FIFA keeps a distance from politics. It was unapologetically political. But few speak out in the FIFA world as the redistributed wealth keeps rolling back in their direction.
It would be easy to forget this isn’t entirely America’s World Cup. They’re sharing hosting with Canada and Mexico.
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‘Bring it on!’: Scotland fans react to World Cup draw
And eventually the spotlight was ceded to their leaders – very briefly – as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney drew out their countries’ names.
But it did live up to FIFA’s mantra that football can unite the world.
The neighbours were brought together here on a snowy day in Washington. And tensions – often stoked by Mr Trump with Canada and Mexico – thawed in the name of football.
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