MoJ orders review into Manchester Arena terrorist’s attack on 3 prison guards ‘with makeshift weapons’
THE Ministry of Justice have launched a probe after the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber allegedly attacked three prison guards with “makeshift weapons”.
Warders suffered burns, scalds and stab wounds in the attack, allegedly carried out by 28-year-old Hashem Abedi, sources said.
He was working in a kitchen at HMP Frankland, in County Durham, when he threw hot oil on three guards before slashing at them with two home-made 20cm-bladed weapons, the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) said.
The officers sustained life-threatening injuries including burns, scalds and stab wounds in the “unprovoked” and “vicious” attack in HMP Frankland, Country Durham, according to the trade union covering prison staff.
Abedi was sentenced to at least 55 years in 2020 for helping suicide bomber older brother Salman plan the 2017 atrocity where 22 died.
Announcing the review into the incident, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Our thoughts remain with the two prison officers still in hospital as they recover.
“There will be a full review into how this attack was able to happen, alongside the separate police inquiry.
“The Government will do whatever it takes to keep our hardworking staff safe.”
The Prison Service confirmed three prison officers were treated in hospital after an attack by an inmate at Frankland.
Two officers sustained “severe stab wounds” but are in a stable condition in hospital, POA’s national chairman said this morning.
A female officer had been discharged by 4pm on Saturday.
Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) NE is leading the investigation into the “serious assault”.
CTP’s acting senior national co-ordinator, Commander Dom Murphy, said: “Given the nature of the incident, it has been agreed that CTP North East will lead the investigation, supported by Durham Constabulary.
“This is an ongoing investigation which is in its early stages, and we are working hard to establish the facts. Therefore, we are unable to comment further at this time.”
Abedi was held on a prison wing housing mostly Muslim inmates, including terrorists.
After his alleged attack, Abedi was subdued by other officers and put in a segregation cell.
Riot squad officers then stormed in, with inmates on all wings put on lockdown.
Air ambulance crews landed on the prison’s grounds.
Police are investigating and counter-terror forces could be called in to the jail, home to killers Levi Bellfield, Ian Huntley and ex-cop Wayne Couzens and dubbed “Monster Mansion”.
A source told The Sun yesterday: “It was horrific, a bloodbath.
“The attacker was being supervised by the officers but turned on them out of the blue.
“The officers who rushed to help were really shaken. One said he had never seen as much blood as this in his life.
“Screams rang out and blood was everywhere. It was truly horrendous.”
‘BLOODBATH’
The attack took place in a separation centre, which holds the most dangerous cons.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said last night: “I will be pushing for the strongest possible punishment. Violence against our staff will never be tolerated.”
Meanwhile, Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said it was “ridiculous” highly dangerous prisoners are given access to cooking facilities and weapons that can threaten lives.
He said: “That luxury must be removed immediately. Prison governors need to stop appeasing these offenders. The safety of prison officers is infinitely more important than the supposed ‘welfare’ of terrorists.”
Abedi’s trial followed a lengthy extradition process that saw his arrest by authorities in Libya.
The Old Bailey heard Manchester-born Abedi was “just as guilty” as his brother, who detonated the bomb at the end of an Ariana Grande concert.
Jurors heard that the Islamic extremist assisted Salman with building the bomb.
Abedi avoided a whole-life order because he was under 21 at the time he orchestrated the atrocity at the Ariana Grande concert in 2017.
The previous longest minimum term imposed on a terrorist in Britain was believed to have been 50 years in the case of David Copeland, who carried out a nail-bombing campaign in 1999.