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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 Abed Khalife and Wandsworth Prison
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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.

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Gatwick Airport evacuates ‘large part’ of South Terminal due to ‘security incident’

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Gatwick Airport evacuates 'large part' of South Terminal due to 'security incident'

A large part of Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal has been evacuated after a “suspected prohibited item” was discovered in luggage and a bomb disposal team has been deployed, police said.

Sussex Police said the explosive ordnance disposal team was being sent in “as a precaution” and a security cordon is in place.

The airport, which is the UK’s second busiest, said the terminal was evacuated after a “security incident”.

In a post on X, it said: “Safety and security of our passengers and staff remains our top priority.

“We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”

It said the North Terminal was still operating normally.

Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of travellers heading away from the terminal building.

“Arrived at London Gatwick for routine connection. Got through customs to find out they’re evacuating the entire airport,” one passenger said.

“Even people through security are being taken outside. Trains shut down and 1,000s all over the streets and carparks waiting.”

Another said passengers near the gates were being told to stay there and not go back to the departure lounge.

Gatwick Express said its trains were not calling at Gatwick Airport.

“Gatwick Airport will not be served until further notice,” it tweeted.

“This is due to the police and emergency services dealing with an incident at the airport.

“At present, the station and airport are being evacuated whilst the police are dealing with an incident. We would recommend delaying your journey until later this morning.”

It said local buses were also affected and would be unable to run to the airport.

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Legal action against MI5 over Manchester Arena bombing cannot continue, judges rule

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Legal action against MI5 over Manchester Arena bombing cannot continue, judges rule

Hundreds of people affected by the Manchester Arena bombing cannot continue legal action against MI5, judges have ruled.

More than 300 people, including survivors and those bereaved by the 2017 attack at an Ariana Grande concert, brought a case to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), claiming failures to take “appropriate measures” to prevent the incident infringed their human rights.

In a ruling on Friday, Lord Justice Singh and Mrs Justice Farbey said the cases could not proceed as they were brought too late.

Lord Justice Singh said: “We are particularly conscious of the importance of the rights concerned… We are also conscious of the horrendous impact of the atrocity on the claimants and their families.

“Any reasonable person would have sympathy for them.

“The grief and trauma which they have suffered, particularly where young children were killed, is almost unimaginable.

“Nevertheless, we have reached the conclusion that, in all the circumstances, it would not be equitable to permit the claims to proceed.”

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People stand next to flowers for the victims of the attack in 2017. Pic: AP
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File pic: AP

Lord Justice Singh acknowledged that while the tribunal “readily understand” why the legal claims were not filed until after the final report from the inquiry into the attack, “real expedition” was needed at that point.

The judge added: “We bear in mind the other matters that had to be investigated and arrangements which had to be put in place but, in our view, the filing of the proceedings was not given the priority which, assessed objectively, it should have been.”

Had the claims gone ahead, the judge noted the security services would have needed to “divert time and resources to defending these proceedings rather than their core responsibilities” – which includes preventing future attacks.

Salman Abedi killed 22 people and injured hundreds when he detonated a rucksack bomb at the end of an Ariana Grande show at Manchester Arena on 22 May 2017.

Salman Abedi killed 22 innocent people
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Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi

Hudgell Solicitors, Slater & Gordon and Broudie Jackson Canter, three of the law firms representing complainants affected, said the ruling was “extremely disappointing” for their clients.

In a statement, the firms said: “Ever since the attack in May 2017, our clients have had to endure continued delays but have done so with great patience and understanding in the hope that by allowing all legal processes to be fully explored, transparency and justice would be achieved.

“It took almost six years for the failings of MI5 to be revealed, confirmed when the inquiry chair published his volume three findings in March 2023, in which he said MI5 had missed a ‘significant opportunity’ to prevent the attack.

“This report concluded that within this six-year period, the security service corporate witnesses X and J gave evidence on oath that had presented an inaccurate picture, and the same inaccurate picture had been presented to Lord Anderson when he compiled his report in December 2017.”

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The law firms said following these findings, their clients believed the IPT would “provide the route to the formal vindication of their human rights”.

The firms added: “We are disappointed that time is one of the reasons now being used against them to prevent their claims progressing. Seven years have now passed since the atrocity in May 2017 – six years of that seven-year delay was caused by MI5.

“This judgment certainly doesn’t exonerate MI5. There were failings by MI5 and multiple other parties leading up to and on the actual evening of 22 May 2017 and collectively we continue to support our clients in their fight for full accountability and justice.”

Police are seen with members of the public after the attack. Pic: PA
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Police with members of the public after the attack. Pic: PA

The inquiry into the bombing found it might have been prevented if MI5 had acted on key intelligence received in the months before the attack.

The agency’s director-general, Ken McCallum, expressed deep regret that such intelligence was not obtained.

Two pieces of information about Abedi were assessed at the time by the security service to not relate to terrorism.

But inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders said, having heard from MI5 witnesses at the hearings, he considered that did not present an “accurate picture”.

Lawyers for those affected previously said the inquiry found there was a “real possibility” that one of the pieces of intelligence could have obtained information which may have led to actions preventing the attack.

And at the hearing earlier this month, Pete Weatherby KC, for those affected, described the IPT claims as “the next step” in vindication for his clients after the inquiry’s findings.

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Britain faces frosty and icy conditions as Storm Bert looms

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Britain faces frosty and icy conditions as Storm Bert looms

Many areas of Britain faced frosty and icy conditions this morning ahead of the arrival of Storm Bert tomorrow.

The Met Office said it expects the storm to bring “heavy rain, strong winds and disruptive snow to parts of the UK through the weekend” and potentially cause travel disruption and flooding.

Much of the UK experienced temperatures close to freezing last night, the Met Office said, with -6C (21.2F) recorded at Tulloch Bridge in Scotland.

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Snowy conditions in the village of Goathland, North York Moors National Park. Pic: PA
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Snowy conditions in the village of Goathland, North York Moors National Park. Pic: PA

Several yellow warnings for snow and ice were in place across the UK until 10am on Friday, while one covering parts of Scotland will remain in place until midday.

They came ahead of an amber warning for heavy snow and ice in place between 7am and 5pm on Saturday in central parts of Scotland.

The Met Office said 10-20cm of snow was likely on ground above 200m and there could be as much as 20-40cm on hills above 400m.

Several other yellow alerts for wind, rain and snow will also cover much of the UK.

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Met Office weather warnings

Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick said: “Through into Friday… snow showers are set to continue mainly around coastal areas though once again still a few feeding inland at times.

“There will also still be plenty of autumnal sunshine. Still feeling cold though, particularly in those brisk winds – once again we’re only looking at highs of around 5C, slightly higher in the southwest around 7C.

“Across the north those temperatures struggling to move past 2-3C.

“As we head into Friday evening, a change is on its way as we introduce Storm Bert moving its way in from the Atlantic. So we’ll see clouds spilling in from the southwest with outbreaks of rain – heavy at times by the time we reach Saturday morning.”

A woman braves the snow in Aviemore, Scotland. Pic: Reuters
Image:
A woman braves the snow in Aviemore, Scotland. Pic: Reuters

“Heavy” outbreaks of rain are likely throughout Saturday, “falling as snow” at times across parts of England and Scotland, Ms Criswick said.

More than 114 schools were shut in the Highland Council area on Thursday because of snow, almost 40 were shut in Aberdeenshire and 12 were closed in Moray.

In England, 89 schools were shut in Devon, 60 in Cornwall and 18 in Dorset, while in Wales 18 were closed in Denbighshire, 10 in Conwy and two in Wrexham.

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