Counter-terrorism officers have launched an investigation after two inmates in fake suicide belts attacked staff at HMP Whitemoor using improvised knives.
Convicted terrorist Brusthom Ziamani, 24, had earlier been named as one of the two men alleged to have been involved. The second man is said to be a Muslim convert jailed for a violent offence.
Ziamani and the other suspect are alleged to have launched a “cowardly and vicious” attack with “improvised bladed weapons” on a prison officer, leaving him with injuries to the head and neck. Four other prison staff were injured in the incident at the prison in Cambridgeshire on Thursday.
A Metropolitan police statement said: “At approximately 9.10am, on 9 January, two prisoners are believed to have approached and attacked a prison officer. The prison officer 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.
“Both attackers were also wearing belts with various items crudely attached.
“Due to the 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.”
The statement said the incident was dealt with quickly and there was no continuing threat.
Ziamani, a follower of the radical preacher Anjem Choudary, was found guilty of planning a terrorist attack in 2015 over a plot to behead a British soldier.
The prison officer who was attacked was left with stab and slash wounds to the head, chest and face. Four others received stab injuries as they stepped in to help.
The general secretary of the Prison Officers Association, Steve Gillan, said: “I have received a full briefing on this cowardly and vicious attack and there is no doubt in my mind that but for the bravery of staff then this morning we could have been talking about a death of a prison officer at Whitemoor prison.”
A Prison Service spokesman said the incident was “quickly resolved by brave staff”, adding: “We do not tolerate assaults on our hard-working officers and will push for the strongest possible punishment.”
The Met said it was appropriate for counter-terrorism officers to carry out the investigation. “However, we must stress that at this early stage of the investigation we are keeping an open mind with regards to any motives,” a spokesman said. “Inquiries to establish the full circumstances of the incident are ongoing.”
Ziamani was 19 when he was sentenced at the Old Bailey to 22 years in prison, reduced to 19 on appeal, after he was arrested while carrying a 30cm (12in) knife and a hammer in a rucksack. The court was told that he had researched the location of army cadet bases in south-east London.
He also showed his ex-girlfriend weapons, described the killer of Fusilier Lee Rigby, Michael Adebolajo, as a legend and told her he would kill soldiers.