Police class attack on prison officer by inmates as ‘terror’

Attack on prison officer by inmates wearing fake suicide belts as they shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ ‘is terror incident’ say police

  • Prison Service spokesman said incident was ‘quickly resolved by brave staff’ 
  • Prisoner was Brusthom Ziamani who had previously plotted to behead soldier 
  • He had worked with another prisoner who had converted to Islam in prison 
  • Attackers reportedly shouted Islamist slogans and had fake suicide vests 

Brusthom Ziamani, 24,  ‘slashed and stabbed a guard’ at the prison in Cambridgeshire while wearing a fake suicide vest

An attack on a prison officer by two inmates wearing fake suicide belts at HMP Whitemoor is being treated as a terrorist attack, police said today.

One of the inmates suspected of behind the assault on staff at the prison in Cambridgeshire yesterday was revealed as a jihadi called Brusthom Ziamani who had plotted to behead a soldier. 

He ‘slashed and stabbed a guard’ at the prison while wearing a fake suicide vest inside the maximum security facility.

Counter-terrorism police have since launched an investigation after the attack, which is thought to have involved another inmate. A prison source claimed the duo shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ – meaning ‘God is Great’ – in the attack.

Police said both attackers were ‘wearing belts with various items crudely attached’.

The prison officer who was attacked received injuries to his head and neck and it is believed the attackers used improvised bladed weapons during the assault.

The two prisoners were subsequently detained by other prison staff, some of whom also suffered injuries.

Ziamani is pictured above in 2015 in London holding a sign which reads 'democracy go to hell'

Ziamani is pictured above in 2015 in London holding a sign which reads ‘democracy go to hell’

Five members of staff, including the seriously injured officer, were subsequently taken to hospital following the incident. All five have since been released.

The 24-year-old had been acting with a man who had been serving time for violent offences and had converted to Islam. 

Ziamani had been inspired by the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby and in 2015 was found guilty of preparing an act of terrorism.

Prior to his conviction he had been known to authorities due to a string of offences such as robberies, fraud and prostitution.

According to the Henry Jackson Society, Zimani had appealed his sentence which had been 22 years. He managed to get it down to 19 years, due to his youth. 

A Prison Service spokesman said the incident was ‘quickly resolved by brave staff’ at the 458-capacity HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire.

He did not state the nature of the injuries to the officers amid reports the inmates were wearing fake suicide vests and shouting Islamist slogans.  

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon, Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, has now confirmed the matter is being treated as a terrorist attack. 

A Prison Service spokesman said the incident was 'quickly resolved by brave staff' at the 458-capacity HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire

A Prison Service spokesman said the incident was ‘quickly resolved by brave staff’ at the 458-capacity HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire

Back in 2011 a report from the Cambridge Institute of Criminology  stated that prisoners had been converting to Islam for ‘gang reasons’.

As part of the report staff claimed converting to the religion was a ‘protection racket’.

The spokesman said: ‘Five members of staff at HMP Whitemoor attended hospital following a serious assault on an officer by two prisoners on January 9.

What does Category A and B mean?

Across England and Wales prisoners are categorised by a number of factors.

These include how likely they are to try and escape, danger to the public and if they were to escape how the threat would be controlled.

Category A: These are high security prisons. They house male prisoners who, if they were to escape, pose the most threat to the public, the police or national security.

Category B: These prisons are either local or training prisons.

Local prisons house prisoners that are taken directly from court in the local area (sentenced or on remand), and training prisons hold long-term and high-security prisoners.

Source: Ministry of Justice 

‘The incident was quickly resolved by our brave staff and our thoughts are with the injured officers at this time.

‘We do not tolerate assaults on our hardworking 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.’

The incident is being investigated by counter-terrorism officers and no arrests have been made, the Met Police said.

A spokesman added: ‘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.’

The prison houses more than 400 Category A and B prisoners. 

They are house across three wings and include a number of the highest-risk inmates. 

Almost a year ago, staff at the prison had to receive medical treatment after a fight broke out. 

Back in 1994 the prisoners tried to escape. Six of which, including IRA member Paul Magee, escaped from a secure unit after smuggling a gun – they were all later recaptured.  

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