Queues continue to form at airports in the UK, as higher security checks have been put in place after terror suspect Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, escaped a London prison yesterday afternoon.
Around 4 pm local time yesterday, passengers at UK airports started reporting queues forming due to slower security checks. There was no explanation for the situation at first, then it was simply announced as a “UK-wide incident”, with no further details. “Additional temporary security measures have been put in place by UK Border Force. Understand this is UK wide”, Glasgow airport said in a statement.
Only later it was confirmed by authorities that the alert had been issued in relation to Khalife’s escape. “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”, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
“They closed security, and everyone was being put through a Police checkpoint just before you go into duty-free. They set up police stations and everyone was getting their passport manually checked before they were allowed through”, one passenger told the Glasgow Times, adding that they assumed the additional checkpoints were set up because the police was looking for someone. “I was in the queue for security for over an hour before it started moving again – I can only imagine how far back it is now”, they added.
Due to the slower security process many travellers missed their flights being left with the only option of getting their baggage back, going home and waiting for updates on the situation. Another passenger described that even getting their bags back proved difficult due to the additional security checks.
According to the Independent, Khalife was being held at London’s Wandsworth prison as a terrorist suspect, after placing “three cannisters with wires on a desk in his accommodation”. The 21-year-old was serving in the British Army and the bomb hoax was orchestrated at a Royal Air Force base.
The ongoing manhunt has sparked debate over why Khalife was being held at Wandsworth, which is a medium security prison, for such serious allegations, instead of a higher security site.
