British Army serviceman accused of bomb hoax and terrorist offence appears in court

Suspect Daniel Abed Khalife alleged to have committed two offences at RAF Stafford

Daniel Abed Khalife, of Beacon Barracks, Beaconside, Stafford, faces a preliminary hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday. PA

A British Army serviceman accused of committing a bomb hoax and a terrorist offence at an RAF base has appeared in court in London.

Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, of Beacon Barracks, Beaconside, Stafford, attended a brief preliminary hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.

He was charged on Friday in connection with two incidents at RAF Stafford in Beaconside in August 2021 and January this year.

He is accused of eliciting or attempted to elicit information “about an individual who was or had been a member of His Majesty’s forces which was of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism” on August 2, 2021.

This is contrary to section 58A of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The second charge alleges he committed a bomb hoax by placing an article with intent on January 2, court documents showed.

He allegedly placed “three canisters with wires at RAF Stafford with the intention of inducing in another a belief that the said article was likely to explode or ignite and thereby cause personal injury or damage to property”, contrary to section 51 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

Mr Khalife appeared in person at court, wearing a grey jumper and jeans. He was represented by lawyer Michael Jones and spoke to confirm his age, name and address.

At the request of prosecutor Tom Williams, District Judge Annabel Pilling adjourned plea before venue proceedings until February 3.

She remanded Mr Khalife in custody, to be produced at the same court on that date.