Soham double murderer Ian Huntley has been seriously injured after an alleged assault inside HMP Frankland in County Durham.
Huntley, 52, who is serving a life sentence for the murders of ten-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002, was reportedly attacked in a prison workshop at around 9am. It is understood he was struck with what has been described as an iron bar.
Sources said Huntley was found in a pool of blood following the incident and that his condition was described as “touch and go”. He was transported to hospital by road. An air ambulance was seen landing near the Category A prison but was not used to transfer him.
Durham Constabulary confirmed officers were alerted to an assault within the prison.
A spokesperson said: “Police were alerted to an assault which had taken place within HMP Frankland in Durham this morning. A male prisoner suffered serious injuries during the incident and was transported to hospital. A police investigation is now underway and detectives are liaising with staff at the prison.”
HMP Frankland houses some of the UK’s most high-risk offenders, including Wayne Couzens, Levi Bellfield and Michael Adebolajo. Huntley has been held there since 2008.
Huntley was convicted in 2003 of murdering Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman after luring them into his home in Soham, Cambridgeshire, before dumping their bodies in a ditch near Lakenheath. He was ordered to serve a minimum term of 40 years and is not eligible for parole until 2042.
The circumstances surrounding how the attacker allegedly gained access to Huntley in the workshop are now under investigation.