Britain’s first acid attack killer ‘launches jihadi attack on three prison guards after becoming radicalised behind bars amid fears of an upsurge in jail extremism’
- Xeneral Imiuru was locked up in 2018 after being convicted for an acid attack
- 20-year-old is currently being held at Winchester jail and launched at officers
- He faked suicide before jumping up and threatening them with a weapon
Britain’s first acid attacker killer launched a copycat jihadist attack on prison staff threatening officers with a sharpened instrument in his cell as officials fear an upsurge in ‘jail extremism’.
Xeneral Imiuru was locked up in 2018 after being convicted for an acid attack that killed nurse Joanne Rand at a Vue cinema in west London.
Downing Street has already been urged to confront the threat of extremism in jails up and down the country.
He had previously assaulted officers at another jail and it has now been revealed that he attempted a jihadist attack at Winchester jail.
The 20-year-old is believed to have faked a suicide attempt in order to lure officers into his cell.
Xeneral Imiuru (pictured above) was jailed in 2018 for the first ever acid attack killing.
Once they were inside the cell they found Imiruru on the floor. Three officers entered and the inmate lunged at them with a weapon that had been strapped to his arm, before being restrained.
The Times reported that he told officers that he was attempting a jihadist attack, despite the fact he was not in prison for terrorist offences.
The Prison Service confirmed to The Times that the attack had taken place and that it was being investigated.
The incident last Thursday comes after the inmate had been segregated from other inmates because he was assessed as a threat.
Prisoners posing as jail ‘emirs’ in jails across the UK have been forcing some to convert to their Islamic ideology.
The incident happened at Winchester prison (pictured above) where officers had to restrain Imiuru
Since terrorist Sudesh Amman was released early from his sentence last month, going on to stab two people in Streatham, London, Downing Street has been urged to confront the threat of extremism in jails.
It is believed that Imiuru’s attempt to copy jihadist methods will be a concern to those in the prison service.
Speaking to the Times, former prison governor Ian Acheson said the attack was ‘disturbing’.
Mr Acheson had conducted an official review of prison extremism in 2016 and said the attack suggested ‘careful pre-meditation at the least’.
‘The attack could well have been inspired by recent violent extremism inside and outside the prison walls.
‘It’s extremely important that the police investigation is speedy and transparent and that a terrorist motive is thoroughly investigated’.
London Bridge attacker Usman Khan used the method of strapping weapons to his arm, it was also used in the 2017 attack.