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| Counter-terrorism police investigate attack on prison officers | Counter-terrorism police investigate attack on prison officers |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Incident at HMP Whitemoor involved prisoners reportedly wearing fake suicide vests | Incident at HMP Whitemoor involved prisoners reportedly wearing fake suicide vests |
| Counter-terrorism police are investigating an attack by two inmates on prison staff at a maximum-security prison. | Counter-terrorism police are investigating an attack by two inmates on prison staff at a maximum-security prison. |
| The two prisoners involved at the incident at HMP Whitemoor near March in Cambridgeshire were wearing fake suicide vests and brandishing improvised bladed weapons, according to reports. | |
| Five prison officers were taken to hospital after the incident on Thursday morning as cells were unlocked. | |
| One of the alleged perpetrators is serving a sentence for a terrorism offence while the other had been jailed for a violent offence, the BBC reported. | |
| One officer, thought to be the initial target, was stabbed and slashed, the others had rushed to help. The officers’ injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. | |
| The Metropolitan police said their counter-terrorism command unit had been called in to the maximum security prison “due to certain circumstances relating to this incident”. | The Metropolitan police said their counter-terrorism command unit had been called in to the maximum security prison “due to certain circumstances relating to this incident”. |
| No arrests had been made so far, the force said. | No arrests had been made so far, the force said. |
| A Prison Service spokesman said the incident was “quickly resolved by brave staff – and our thoughts are with the injured officers at this time”. He did not state the nature of the officers’ injuries. | |
| The statement added: “We do not tolerate assaults on our hard-working officers and will push for the strongest possible punishment. | The statement added: “We do not tolerate assaults on our hard-working officers and will push for the strongest possible punishment. |
| “We have referred the incident to the police and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.” | “We have referred the incident to the police and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.” |
| HMP Whitemoor is a 458-capacity maximum security prison housing more than 400 Category A and B prisoners on three wings, including a number of the highest-risk inmates. | HMP Whitemoor is a 458-capacity maximum security prison housing more than 400 Category A and B prisoners on three wings, including a number of the highest-risk inmates. |
| In a statement, the Met said: “Due to certain circumstances relating to this incident, it was deemed appropriate for the investigation to be carried out by officers from the Met police counter-terrorism command. | In a statement, the Met said: “Due to certain circumstances relating to this incident, it was deemed appropriate for the investigation to be carried out by officers from the Met police counter-terrorism command. |
| “However, we must stress that at this early stage of the investigation we are keeping an open mind with regards to any motives, and inquiries to establish the full circumstances of the incident are ongoing.” | “However, we must stress that at this early stage of the investigation we are keeping an open mind with regards to any motives, and inquiries to establish the full circumstances of the incident are ongoing.” |
| In February 2019, a small number of prison staff received medical treatment after violence broke out at the prison. | |
| Usman Khan, who carried out a terrorist attack in London Bridge on 29 November before being shot dead by police, had previously served a sentence at HMP Whitemoor. | Usman Khan, who carried out a terrorist attack in London Bridge on 29 November before being shot dead by police, had previously served a sentence at HMP Whitemoor. |
| In 2015, it emerged that an inmate at Whitemoor was kept in segregation for two and a half years. | In 2015, it emerged that an inmate at Whitemoor was kept in segregation for two and a half years. |
| The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) for HMP Whitemoor also revealed that it held seven of the 24 prisoners detained in segregation for more than six months across England’s high-security jails. | The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) for HMP Whitemoor also revealed that it held seven of the 24 prisoners detained in segregation for more than six months across England’s high-security jails. |
| Inspectors said a staffing “merry-go-round” meant staff at the segregation unit had been inexperienced and their management had been “poor”. | Inspectors said a staffing “merry-go-round” meant staff at the segregation unit had been inexperienced and their management had been “poor”. |
| Prison rules enable a governor to arrange for a prisoner to be segregated – kept away from other inmates – for up to 72 hours, before seeking authorisation from the secretary of state. | Prison rules enable a governor to arrange for a prisoner to be segregated – kept away from other inmates – for up to 72 hours, before seeking authorisation from the secretary of state. |
| Inmates can be segregated if they are deemed to be in danger, if they are deemed dangerous to other prisoners, or as punishment for disruptive behaviour. |