The Manchester Arena co-plotter has forced the government to issue a major change that could rollout across all prisons after the terrorist ambushed officers in a horrific jail attack
Prisons in the UK will face a major update after the Manchester bomb co-plotter horrifically attacked guards with hot oil and home-made weapons.
Terrorist Hashem Abedi injured four officers, three of which suffered life-threatening injuries, at HMP Frankland in County Durham two weeks ago. The Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed the use of Tasers would now be trialled in UK prisons after the horrifying attack and following calls from the Prison Officers’ Association for their use as extra protection. The electric stun guns and other forms of body armour are being considered by the MP during a review into the shocking incident.
One of the three officers rushed to hospital after the attack has remained there but is in a stable condition, while the two others have since been discharged. When Abedi launched his assault, he was being held on a separate wing for extreme criminals and terrorists, but he had access to a kitchen – where he was able to fashion his makeshift weapons.
Union bosses called on the government to big in prison changes like giving frontline jail staff stab vests and protective equipment, arguing the incident showed “how dangerous our job is”.
On Tuesday, the Justice Secretary in the Commons said: “The House will be aware of the attack at HMP Frankland on the 12 of April. The bravery of the officers involved that day undoubtedly saved lives, my thoughts are with them as they recover.”
She revealed some of the immediate changes that have been brought in directly following the terrorists prison attack, adding: “Since the attack, I have suspended access to kitchens in separation centres and in close supervision centres.
“Alongside that, an independent review will ascertain how this incident was able to happen, what more must be done to protect prison staff and, more widely, how separation centres are run. The Prison Service will also conduct a snap review of the use of protective bodily armour.”
The MP added: “Wherever we can strengthen our defences, to better protect our staff and the public, we will do so.”
The Manchester Arena terror plotter was reportedly “silent and grinning” when he threw hot oil over the officers before stabbing them. He is believed to have collected sachets of butter before melting them and throwing the scalding oil on the guards in the horrific ambush.
Abedi was moved to Belmarsh Prison in south-east London after his onslaught. The terrorist was sentenced to a record 55-year minimum term for plotting the attack with his brother, the suicide bomber Salman Abedi, and was extradited from Libya to the UK.
Abedi was sentenced, in 2020, for 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life.
