A spate of high-profile prison escapes is keeping law enforcement busy across the globe.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The manhunts started on August 31 in the US, September 4 in Australia and September 6 in the UK.
Facing long stretches of time in prison, inmates found creative ways to dodge guards and security measures to make their opportunistic getaway.
Police are desperately seeking a snippet of CCTV footage or a public sighting to help their search.
Daniel Briffa, Ballarat
At some time between 6pm and 9pm on September 4 Daniel Briffa slipped out of Langi Kal Kal Prison 40 kilometres north-west of Ballarat.
Police said he left the centre "by unknown means".
He was last seen in a convenience store on the western side of Ballarat at 10.45am on September 5. A "significant" search has been ongoing since his escape.
Police are appealing for information from two men who were seen chatting with Briffa on CCTV footage in the store.
![Daniel Briffa escaped from Langi Kal Kal Prison in Trawalla on September 4. Picture via Victoria Police Daniel Briffa escaped from Langi Kal Kal Prison in Trawalla on September 4. Picture via Victoria Police](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/194363481/7afd8b53-9e7f-4ac6-8b0c-4841bcc04b5a.png/r67_0_1134_600_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The 50-year-old is described as being 170 centimetres tall, solidly built, with short brown curly hair, a full beard and moustache. He also has tattoos on his lower legs and was last seen wearing a green tracksuit.
He has been imprisoned for drug, theft and traffic-related offences and police said he's not believed to be violent. Members of the public are advised not to approach Briffa if he's spotted and to call police.
Those with other information that may be able to help police find Briffa should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppers.com.au
Daniel Abed Khalife, London
Police in the UK have issued an urgent appeal after a former soldier suspected of terrorism offences escaped from a London prison.
Daniel Abed Khalife who was awaiting trial on charges relating to terrorism and the Official Secrets Act, is believed to have escaped from HMP Wandsworth shortly before 8am on September 6, London police said in a statement.
He had escaped through the kitchens and clung onto the bottom of a delivery van, a prison source said to The Sun newspaper.
The 21-year-old is 1.88m tall and was wearing a white T-shirt, red and white chequered trousers, and brown steel toe cap boots.
![Daniel Abed Khalife escaped prison awaiting trial on charges relating to terror and the Official Secrets Act. Picture via AP Photo Daniel Abed Khalife escaped prison awaiting trial on charges relating to terror and the Official Secrets Act. Picture via AP Photo](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/194363481/7e5d48e1-c577-4238-855b-275e7dd8d50e.jpg/r0_0_450_338_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"We have a team of officers who are making extensive and urgent inquiries in order to locate and detain Khalife as quickly as possible," Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the London police's Counter Terrorism Command, said.
"I also want to reassure the public that we have no information which indicates, nor any reason to believe that Khalife poses a threat to the wider public."
At a previous court appearance in February, Khalife, who was based at barracks in central England at the time of the alleged offences, was accused of eliciting or trying to elicit information "likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism".
He was also charged with making a bomb hoax by placing three canisters with wires on a desk "with the intention of inducing in another a belief that the said article was likely to explode or ignite".
IN OTHER NEWS:
Danelo Cavalcante, Philadelphia
Convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante is on the run after escaping from a suburban Philadelphia prison yard by "crab-walking" up two parallel walls.
Chester County Prison released security footage of Cavalcante walking into a shaded corner where he suspended himself in a walkway and climbed onto a roof to make his escape on August 31.
![Footage of Danelo Cavalcante from the night of September 4 in Longwood Gardens during the police manhunt. Picture supplied Footage of Danelo Cavalcante from the night of September 4 in Longwood Gardens during the police manhunt. Picture supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/194363481/64d5ec5e-fcc4-44a4-ac17-65ad307669da.jpg/r2_0_448_251_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The fugitive was given a life sentence in August after killing Deborah Brandao, his ex girlfriend, in front of her children in 2021.
The 34-year-old Brazilian born man was the second convict to escape using the route in 2023. In May, Igor Vidra Bolte climbed onto the roof and scaled down a fence but was caught five minutes later.
Prison guards took an hour to notice Cavalcante was missing and the unsuccessful manhunt is on its eighth day.
With Australian Associated Press