Incident at Full Sutton prison

Counter-terrorist units are investigating an attack on two prison officers at Full Sutton maximum security jail near York.

One warder was held hostage for several hours by three inmates.

The Prison Service has stressed that they were not serving sentences for terror-related offences.

The attack comes less than a week after the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich.

Gregg Easteal reports.

Officers from the North East counter-terrorism unit are investigating the attack on two prison officers at Full Sutton maximum security jail near York.

It is understood that three inmates held one warder hostage for a number of hours.

In a statement, the Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service, Michael Spurr, said:

“At 4.25pm on Sunday 26th May, a prison officer was forcibly taken hostage by three prisoners at HMP Full Sutton. None was serving a sentence for terror-related offences.

A second officer immediately attempted to come to her colleague’s aid and was injured as a result, receiving cuts to her arm.

The incident concluded at 8.40pm, after specially trained prison staff intervened to release the officer.

The officer taken hostage suffered a broken cheekbone and a number of wounds to his face and neck at the beginning of the incident.

Both members of staff were treated in hospital for their injuries.

This was a serious incident and my first thought is with the officer who was taken hostage – we will do all we can to help him recover from this experience.

I want to commend all staff involved for their great courage and professionalism.”

The statement also confirmed that neither of the staff involved is ex-military.

The three prisoners involved are Muslim. Two of the prisoners are 25 and one is 26.

An investigation is ongoing following an incident at Full Sutton prison in Yorkshire. A Prison Service Spokesperson said:

Key facts about York's Full Sutton prison following a recent inspection:

• HMP Full Sutton holds around 600 of the country's most serious offenders.

• Recent inspections have reported positively on the prison and, although some concerns remain, this inspection found it had improved further.

• Levels of violence were low, drug use was low and there was a range of good quality, well-managed purposeful activity available.

Police are investigating an incident at Full Sutton Prison near York involving three prisoners which broke out on Sunday afternoon.

A prison service spokesman said it took more than four hours to resolve after staff intervened. Newspaper reports suggest those involved were Muslim.