Manchester Arena Bomb Plotter’s Attack on Prison Officers Prompts Security Review

Hashem Abedi, serving a 55-year sentence for his role in the 2017 Manchester bombing, attacked three officers at HMP Frankland with boiling oil and improvised knives, leaving two seriously injured.

The attack occurred on April 12, 2025, at HMP Frankland’s separation unit, where Abedi used homemade knives and boiling oil to assault three prison officers.
Two officers remain hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, including stab wounds and severe burns, while a third officer has been discharged.
The Ministry of Justice has launched a full review into the incident, alongside a police investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing North East.
The Prison Officers’ Association has called for immediate reforms, including banning inmate access to cooking facilities and providing officers with stab vests and other protective gear.
Political leaders, including Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, have condemned the attack and demanded accountability and stricter controls on high-risk inmates.