Trial of Former British Soldier Unfolds at Woolwich Crown Court

The trial of Daniel Khalife, a former British soldier accused of engaging in espionage activities with Iranian security officials, is currently underway at Woolwich Crown Court. Khalife, aged 23, is facing charges related to collecting sensitive military information for the Iranian government. He denies all allegations.

According to the prosecution, Khalife’s actions pose a legitimate threat to the security of the United Kingdom. Mark Heywood KC, representing the prosecution, stated, “We are not talking about the odd personal radio in this case. When the security of those systems and communications is at risk, so is the operational capability and effectiveness of the Army itself.”

Khalife, who was raised in Kingston, southwest London, joined the Army’s Royal Corps of Signals in September 2018, shortly before his 17th birthday, after completing training at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. By 2020, he had finished his specialist training and was posted to the 16th Signal Regiment in Stafford, responsible for sophisticated digital communication services.

In April 2019, the defendant allegedly contacted Hamed Ghashghavi of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps via an Iranian number and later spoke to an English-speaking handler. The court heard Khalife purportedly offered himself as an intelligence asset to Iran, while later claiming this was an attempt to deceive and ultimately support UK security services as a double agent.

A significant part of the case against Khalife includes his interaction in August 2019, where he allegedly retrieved £1,500 from a London park, hidden in a dog waste bag, as payment from Iranian handlers. Prosecutor Heywood described this collection as part of a larger plan that included discussions about acquiring a new passport and traveling to Turkey to meet with Iranian agents.

Khalife, who has an Iranian-born mother, is also accused of planning and executing an escape from HMP Wandsworth in South London. He allegedly strapped himself to the underside of a food delivery truck on September 6, 2023, while awaiting trial for terrorism and espionage charges, before being apprehended a few days later on a London canal towpath.

Presently, Khalife is charged with acts under the Official Secrets Act, including gathering and communicating information useful to an enemy between May 2019 and January 2022, as well as charges under the Terrorism Act, including eliciting armed forces information and a bomb hoax. He denies all charges brought against him.

The trial, which is expected to continue for approximately six weeks, has captured significant public attention due to the serious nature of the allegations and the potential implications for national security.