Manchester Arena bomb plotter ‘attacks three prison guards with hot cooking oil’

Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi has attacked three prison guards with hot cooking oil, the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) has said.

The Prison Service confirmed three prison officers were treated in hospital after an attack by a prisoner at HMP Frankland, County Durham, UK.

Abedi threw hot cooking oil over the officers on Saturday (12 April) before producing “home-made weapons” and stabbing them, said the POA, a trade union covering prison staff.

The officers sustained life-threatening injuries including burns, scalds and stab wounds in the “unprovoked” and “vicious” attack, it added.

One female officer was discharged by 4pm on Saturday.

Abedi, now 28, was convicted of murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life after he assisted with the Manchester terror plot, in which his suicide bomber brother Salman Abedi killed 22 people by detonating a homemade rucksack-bomb in a crowd of concert-goers at an Ariana Grande gig in May 2017.

Over 1,000 people were also injured in the ordeal.

Abedi was jailed for life in August 2020 for his crimes and is currently serving at the category A HMP Frankland.

Category A is the highest level of security, housing some of the country’s most serious criminals.

Speaking about today's attack, Secretary of State for Justice, Shabana Mahmood, posted on X, formerly Twitter: “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.”

Elsewhere, the POA’s national chair, 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.”

A Prison Service spokesperson added: “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.”