Hashem Abedi, the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, has attacked three prison officers at HMP Frankland in County Durham.

The Prison Officers Association said the "unprovoked attack" today left staff with life-threatening injuries including burns, scalds and stab wounds - when Abedi threw hot cooking oil over them.

Abedi then produced home-made weapons and proceeded to stab the officers, the POA added.

The association's national chair Mark Fairhurst said in a statement: "First and foremost, my thoughts are with the injured staff, their families and colleagues. No officer should be subject to cowardly and vicious attacks at work.

HMP Frankland

"The POA will support our members as much as we need during this traumatic time. This attack displays the dangers brave prison officers face on a daily basis.

"Separation centres hold the most dangerous terrorist offenders who simply do not wish to alter their ideology - and as this event confirms, are determined to inflict violence on those who hold them securely.

"We must now review the freedoms we allow separation centre prisoners have. I am of the opinion that allowing access to cooking facilities and items that can threaten the lives of staff should be removed immediately.

"These prisoners need only receive their basic entitlements and we should concentrate on control and containment instead of attempting to appease them. Things have to change."

The North East Ambulance Service told GB News it had deployed assets to the prison earlier today, which houses some of Britain’s most violent offenders.

GB News understands that the air ambulance was deployed.

A spokesman for the service said: "We were called at 10.50am today (April 12) to attend an incident at HM Prison Frankland in County Durham.

"We dispatched two paramedic ambulance crews, a doctor in a rapid response vehicle, the air ambulance with a second doctor, a specialist paramedic, a Harzardous Area Response Team (Hart) crew and a duty officer.

"We treated three patients before conveying all to hospital by road. Two of the patients were accompanied by a doctor."

Robert Jenrick labelled the attack 'appalling'

And Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said following the news: "The appalling attack on prison officers by the Manchester Arena bomber is extremely concerning. My thoughts are with the officers involved.

"There are serious concerns about the prison leadership's ability to contain the threat from Islamist extremist inmates... This deeply serious security failure must be a turning point."

The POA's general secretary Steve Gillan also said: "This is a disgraceful and cowardly attack on prison officers at Frankland prison who were carrying out their duties.

"Prison officers keep the general public safe, but at this moment in time our thoughts are with the affected officers, their colleagues and their families.

"No one goes to work to be assaulted and the POA will assess this vindictive act and liaise with HMPPS and Ministers to get justice for those Prison Officers."