UK and European Union hold second Counter-Terrorism Dialogue in London

The UK and EU representatives also discussed strategic approaches towards countering terrorism and a range of topics related to the identification of travellers of ‘counter-terrorism concern’, not to mention technology (encompassing) responses to terrorist content online and myriad emerging technologies.

Representatives welcomed the productive discussions and agreed to continue these important exchanges. Both sides underlined the strategic importance of the unique relationship between the UK and the EU in addressing these challenges.

Further, representatives reaffirmed their mutual commitment to continue to strengthen co-operation on counter-terrorism in line with shared values and, of course, the agreement between Sir Keir Starmer (Prime Minister of the UK)  and Ursula von der Leyen (the President of the European Commission) designed to strengthen the relationship between the UK and the EU.

The UK delegation was chaired by Chloe Squires (director general for homeland security) and Jonathan Emmett (director of counter-terrorism and homeland security strategy at the Home Office), who were accompanied by officials from the Home Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

On the EU side, the Counter-Terrorism Dialogue was chaired by Maciej Stadejek (deputy managing director for security and defence policy at the European External Action Service.

Representatives from the European Commission, including Floriana Sipala (director of internal security from the Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs) and the EU’s counter-terrorism co-ordinator Bartjan Wegter also joined the discussions. Further, the delegation included a representative from the Polish Presidency on behalf of EU Member States.

The next Counter-Terrorism Dialogue will be held in Brussels.

Former soldier jailed over spying offences

A former soldier who sparked a nationwide manhunt after escaping from prison has been jailed for spying offences. His conviction and sentencing follows on from an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service’s Counter Terrorism Command, which found that he had been sharing sensitive military information with Iranian agents.

On 3 February, Daniel Khalife, aged 23, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court to a total of 14 years and three months’ imprisonment for espionage and terrorism offences. He was previously convicted of these offences in November last year following a trial at the same venue.

An investigation into Khalife began in November 2021 after he anonymously contacted MI5 twice that month to say that he had established contact with Iranian agents and wanted to become a ‘double agent’. The details, however, were passed to the police. It was identified that Khalife was the person behind the calls and that he was a soldier in the British Army based at the Staffordshire Barracks.

Khalife was arrested in January 2022. The police seized various devices and documents from his room. The ensuing investigation found that Khalife was in possession of various sensitive documents and information (including details of soldiers who were attached to highly sensitive military units).

Investigators also found evidence that Khalife had made contact with Iranian agents and had passed sensitive military information to them over the preceding two-and-a-half years.

Khalife was due to be charged with offences in January 2023. However, he was reported as missing by his British Army unit in the early part of that month. When his room was searched, what appeared to be a potential improvised explosive device was found, along with a note indicating that Khalife had left as he feared he was going to be charged when he returned on bail.

On 26 January 2023, Khalife was spotted at a Leisure Centre in Staffordshire and subsequently arrested before being charged.

Escape from HMP Wandsworth

In September 2023, while awaiting trial, Khalife escaped from HMP Wandsworth. Police were informed and, following a three-day manhunt (which involved hundreds of officers from across the Metropolitan Police Service, as well as support from police forces across the country and colleagues from various other agencies including those at ports and borders), Khalife was found and arrested in Northolt.

When he was giving evidence during his trial at Woolwich Crown Court on 11 November, Khalife pleaded guilty to escaping from HMP Wandsworth.

On 28 November, he was found guilty of passing on information to Iran, contrary to Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911, for which he was sentenced on 3 February to six years’ imprisonment.

Khalife was also found guilty of eliciting (or attempting to elicit) information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, which is contrary to Section 58A of the Terrorism Act 2000. In respect of this, Khalife was sentenced to six years’ consecutive imprisonment (consisting of five years custodial, with an additional year on licence).

Khalife was also sentenced to two years and three months’ imprisonment for his prison escape – again to be served consecutively – meaning that he was sentenced to a total of 14 years and three months behind bars. He will be subject to notification requirements under Part 4 of the Counter Terrorism Act 2008 for a period of 15 years.

Member of the Jury found Khalife not guilty of creating a bomb hoax at the British Army barracks in Staffordshire.