Former British Soldier Daniel Khalife Convicted of Spying for Iran

Daniel Khalife, a former soldier in the British army, has been found guilty of espionage on behalf of Iran. Khalife, who absconded from custody prior to his trial, amassed and transmitted intelligence to Tehran, including the identities of special forces personnel. He was acquitted of an accusation related to staging a bomb hoax at his military barracks. The 23-year-old confessed during his Woolwich Crown Court trial to escaping Wandsworth prison in London in September 2023 by attaching himself to the bottom of a food delivery vehicle. Justice Bobbie Cheema-Grubb informed the court during the proceedings that Khalife would receive “a long custodial sentence” when his sentencing occurs early next year. Khalife, whose conduct violated both the Official Secrets Act and the Terrorism Act, displayed no visible reaction as the verdicts were announced. According to prosecutors, Khalife engaged in a “cynical game” by contacting an individual connected to Iranian intelligence shortly after enlisting in the army in September 2018, subsequently informing MI6 of his desire to operate as a double agent. The court was informed that he gathered sensitive data which presented a significant risk if it fell into unauthorized possession. Khalife communicated with a man associated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) via Facebook. He cultivated connections with Iranian contacts, even being directed at one instance to retrieve $2,000 (£1,500) deposited in a dog waste bag within a north London park. Bethan David, who leads the Crown Prosecution Service’s counter-terrorism division, stated that Khalife, in his capacity as a soldier, was “employed and entrusted to uphold and protect the national security of this country.” She asserted, “But, for purposes of his own, Daniel Khalife used his employment to undermine national security.” She further commented that his dissemination of information “could have exposed military personnel to serious harm, or a risk to life, and prejudiced the safety and security of the United Kingdom.” While serving in the army, Khalife compiled a list of the names of 15 active soldiers, some of whom were from special forces units. Prosecutors suspect he transmitted this list to Iran prior to erasing any proof. He refuted ever sending it, asserting that the intelligence he did transmit was largely fabricated. Nevertheless, he apparently dispatched a minimum of two classified documents: one concerning drones and another titled “Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance.” The United Kingdom may never ascertain the full extent of the most sensitive material Khalife provided, as the majority of messages he exchanged with contacts on the encrypted messaging application Telegram were erased. His legal counsel, Gul Nawaz Hussain KC, had contended that the double agent scheme was “hapless” and resembled “Scooby-Doo” more than “007”. Khalife became the focus of a prominent search operation following his prison escape, ultimately being apprehended 75 hours later after being observed cycling on a canal tow path. Prior to his capture, he attempted to reach his Iranian contacts, dispatching a Telegram message that stated plainly: “I wait.” His breakout occurred while he was being held on remand for infractions under the Official Secrets Act and the Terrorism Act, as well as for carrying out a bomb hoax. His apprehension followed his flight from his army base, Beacon Barracks in Stafford, in January 2023, upon realizing he would probably face accusations of transmitting classified intelligence. During the proceedings, the jury learned that an unconvincing, imitation bomb, consisting of three nitrous oxide canisters taped together, was discovered on his desk after he did not report for duty. Officers who attended the location concluded the device was a fake. Nevertheless, a bomb disposal team was summoned, and five residential blocks were evacuated. Following his arrest, Khalife informed police that he had intended to volunteer his services to UK security agencies, having sent an email to MI6 as early as 2019. Commander Dominic Murphy, who heads the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, commented after the verdict: “The threat to the UK from states such as Iran is very serious, so for a soldier in the army to be sharing sensitive military material and information with them is extremely reckless and dangerous”. Khalife’s departure from Wandsworth additionally prompted significant concerns regarding the prison’s security and personnel levels; 40 prisoners were temporarily relocated to different facilities while an inquiry into the escape was conducted. Damien Hinds, a former prisons minister, stated that approximately 40% of prison officers failed to report for their shift at Wandsworth on the day Khalife escaped, though the Ministry of Justice maintained that staffing was sufficient. A spokesperson for Sir Keir Starmer, the prime minister, remarked that although Khalife’s situation was “an isolated incident,” such issues are regarded “extremely seriously, and more broadly, it is why we continue to take strong action and hold the Iranian regime to account.”