Durham, England — The British government is launching a swift inquiry into a violent attack on prison staff by Hashem Abedi, the convicted accomplice behind the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. Abedi, 28, assaulted four prison officers at HMP Frankland last month using boiling oil and makeshift weapons, raising serious concerns about security measures in the country’s prisons.
Jonathan Hall KC, who is currently serving as the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, has been appointed to lead the review. The Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, emphasized the urgency of the inquiry, highlighting its aim to scrutinize the effectiveness of separation centers designed to manage the most dangerous extremist inmates. “I am committed to ensuring our courageous prison officers are protected,” she stated.
The review will explore the protocols of these facilities to determine if they adequately address the security needs of staff and inmates alike. Mahmood insisted that the inquiry will be thorough, promising to “leave no stone unturned” to prevent a recurrence of such incidents. The recommendations sought from the inquiry could lead to significant policy changes regarding the management of extremist offenders.
Following the attack, which resulted in three officers sustaining serious injuries, Abedi was relocated from HMP Frankland to Belmarsh prison in southeast London. The incident has evoked anger and distress from victims of the original bombing and their families, underlining the echoing trauma associated with Abedi’s actions. Martin Hibbert, a survivor who suffered life-altering injuries during the Manchester Arena tragedy, described the assault as a “catastrophic failure” of the justice system’s ability to protect its workers.
Families of five individuals who lost their lives in the 2017 attack have voiced their demands that Abedi be stripped of prison privileges and denied access to potentially dangerous items. Such calls reflect a growing urgency to reassess the treatment of convicted extremists within the prison system.
Mark Fairhurst, chairman of the Prison Officers’ Association, revealed that staff at HMP Frankland are experiencing heightened emotional distress, describing them as “traumatized” and “angry” over the implications of the attack. This sentiment is not isolated; recent violent incidents involving prison staff have heightened fears about the safety of personnel in high-security facilities.
The review comes in the wake of a separate incident involving Axel Rudakubana, who allegedly attacked a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh by throwing boiling water over them. Such events have compounded calls for more stringent measures to ensure the safety of those working in the prison system.
As the inquiry unfolds, the government faces mounting pressure to implement effective changes that will safeguard both inmates and staff from future assaults. The comprehensive review—expected to provide recommendations—could have far-reaching implications for the management of dangerous offenders in the UK’s penal system.