The woman who captured the moment when police mistakenly arrested a man believed to be terror suspect Daniel Khalife has spoken out about her instinctive feeling that the authorities had the wrong person. Daragh Meredith, 21, was a witness to the dramatic events that unfolded at Banbury Station, providing an exclusive account of the incident.
Daragh, a recent graduate from Oxford Brookes University, revealed that she had a background in criminology and law, which heightened her interest in the situation. She had been aboard a train headed for Oxford but was delayed at Leamington Spa due to a police incident involving the escaped prisoner, Daniel Khalife.
As the train approached Banbury Station, Daragh noticed a group of police officers surrounding a man who bore a striking resemblance to Khalife. She was intrigued by his reaction to the arrest, finding it unusual that he appeared rather content and was engaging in banter with the officers despite the gravity of the situation.
Intriguingly, the innocent man arrested in the mix-up reached out to Daragh on Twitter, mistakenly thinking she was on the opposite platform. Some posts even suggested that they should become a couple, adding a humorous twist to the incident.
The man, who adopted the pseudonym “Horatio” on social media, shared his experience of the incident, including the fact that he was offered a first-class upgrade on his train as an apology for the error. He clarified that he was not the escaped prisoner and that he had proven his identity through a fingerprint scan.
Meanwhile, another train passenger named Oliver, in his 20s, also observed the man in question while waiting outside Banbury Station. He expressed his initial concerns about the situation but praised the authorities for providing accurate information to passengers.
Despite these events, there have been no confirmed sightings of Daniel Khalife, who remains at large. The Metropolitan Police have issued a nationwide alert and increased security measures, seeking the public’s assistance in locating the fugitive.
Commander Dominic Murphy, leading the investigation, emphasized the need for public cooperation in the search for Khalife. He described the escaped prisoner as a “resourceful individual” with military training, making him particularly challenging to apprehend.
As the search for Daniel Khalife continues, authorities are determined to bring him to justice, and the public’s support is crucial in achieving this goal.