Prison Service to carry out 'snap review' after four officers attacked by Hashem Abedi

The 'vicious attack' happened last weekend

The Prison Service will conduct a 'snap review' after four officers were attacked by Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi.

Abedi, brother of suicide bomber Salman, is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum of 55 years in prison for his role in plotting the 2017 attack which killed 22 people.

He was being held in a separation unit at HMP Frankland, County Durham, when he allegedly ‘threw hot cooking oil over’ staff and ‘then produced home made weapons and proceeded to stab the officers’ on Saturday (April 12).

Three people were hospitalised from the incident, two seriously, and Abedi has since been moved to Belmarsh prison in London.

The justice secretary said there will now be a 'snap review' into whether protective body armour should be available to frontline staff.

“I share the country’s shock and anger at the attack on our prison officers at HMP Frankland last weekend,” Shabana Mahmood said in a statement.

“I have no doubt that those officers’ bravery saved lives that day. My thoughts remain with them as they continue their recovery.

“The authorities, including counter-terror police, are now conducting their investigations. It is vital that they are given the space to do so.

“Since the attack, we have suspended the use of kitchens in separation centres. But it is clear there are further questions to answer, and more that must be done.

"For that reason, we are carrying out an independent review into these events. This will look into how this was able to happen, and what we must do to better protect our prison officers in the future.

"This review will look specifically at this attack, but also more widely at how separation centres are run.

“The Prison Service will also conduct a snap review into whether protective body armour should be made available to frontline staff.

“I know full well the dangers of the warped ideology of Islamist extremists. I will not tolerate it within our prisons.

"In the last nine years, there have been 19 reviews into extremism in our prisons, leading to 230 recommendations.

"Alongside this review, I will now be auditing the implementation of each of those. Wherever I find there is opportunity to strengthen our defences and better protect our staff and the public, I will do so.”

Earlier this week, the government said that it would carry out a 'full review' in the attack, in addition to the police investigation.

Counter terrorism officers are leading the police's probe into the incident which left officers with 'life-threatening' injuries.