Brother of Manchester Arena bomber attacks prison guards with hot cooking oil
Three prison officers were hospitalised after being attacked by Hashem Abedi, brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, it’s been reported.
The officers suffered burns, scalds and stab wounds in the attack at HMP Frankland in County Durham, the BBC reports.
The Prison Officers’ Association alleged Abedi threw hot cooking oil over the workers and used ‘home made weapons’ to stab them.
The Prison Service confirmed police are investigating and two of the officers are still in hospital after suffering life-threatening injuries.
A female officer was discharged on Saturday afternoon.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: ‘Three prison officers have been treated in hospital after an attack by a prisoner at HMP Frankland.
‘Police are now investigating so it would be inappropriate to comment further.
‘Violence in prison will not be tolerated, and we will always push for the strongest punishment for attacks on our hardworking staff.’
Secretary of State for Justice, Shabana Mahmood, said on X: ‘I am appalled by the attack of three brave officers at HMP Frankland today. My thoughts are with them and their families.
‘The police are now investigating. I will be pushing for the strongest possible punishment.
‘Violence against our staff will never be tolerated.’
HMP Frankland also has a separation centre.
These centres, introduced in 2017, aim to control prisoners with extreme views, for example by preventing them from disrupting the prison estate, supporting acts of terrorism or radicalising other inmates.
Hashem Abedi's role in the Manchester Arena bombing
Abedi was found guilty of 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life following the Manchester Arena bombing on May 22, 2017.
The bombing itself was carried out by his brother Salman, who died in the blast.
During his trial at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) in London, the jury heard compelling evidence of Hashem’s activities in the months leading up to the attack.
These included persuading close acquaintances to purchase chemicals on his behalf that could be used to manufacture explosives, sourcing metal drums that were used to build bomb prototypes, and buying a Nissan Micra that was used to store the bomb components back in Manchester whilst the brothers were in Libya.
Witnesses also gave evidence in court which suggested the brothers had developed an extremist mindset. One witness stated in court that, in his opinion, Hashem ‘believed in terrorism’.
POA’s national chairman, Mark Fairhurst, said: ‘Separation centres hold the most dangerous terrorist offenders who simply do not wish to alter their ideology, and as this event confirms, are determined to inflict violence on those who hold them securely.
‘We must now review the freedoms we allow separation centre prisoners have.
‘I am of the opinion that allowing access to cooking facilities and items that can threaten the lives of staff should be removed immediately.
‘These prisoners need only receive their basic entitlements and we should concentrate on control and containment instead of attempting to appease them. Things have to change.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.