A manhunt has begun for a British soldier awaiting trial on terrorism-related charges after he escaped from a prison in southwest London, according to British counter-terrorism police on Wednesday.

Police said soldier Daniel Abed Khalifa, accused of planting fake bombs at a military base and violating the British Official Secrets Act, disappeared from Wandsworth Prison in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The Associated Press quoted Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, as saying, "Despite Khalifa's considerable cunning, a team of officers from the City of London Police and border forces were focused on finding him."

Murphy added to Sky News that Khalifa was wearing chef’s attire - consisting of a white shirt and red pants - at the time of his escape, noting that there is no evidence that he is currently wearing this outfit.

Murphy did not provide any official explanation for how Khalifa escaped. He stated that there was no information suggesting that Khalifa poses a threat to the public, but urged anyone who might see him to "not approach him."

Ian Acheson, former security chief of Wandsworth Prison, told Sky that Khalifa's escape "demonstrated multiple and catastrophic security failures within the prison."

Khalifa, 21, has denied all charges against him.