Prison officers stabbed in jail attack

The attack, at Frankland jail in County Durham, is reported to have involved a broken bottle.

None was critically injured, but two of the officers remain in hospital for treatment, Durham Police said.

The officers were attacked on G Wing on Saturday morning, a police spokesman added.

A spokesman for the Prison Officers Association said a female officer and two male colleagues were injured.

He said the woman was stabbed in the back, while the second officer was injured in the arm, sustaining a very serious injury.

A third officer, who is believed to have rugby-tackled the inmate, was then slashed across the face.

He said two of the officers, who are all aged in their early 30s, remained in hospital last night.

He said one of the officers suffered an arterial bleed and was fortunate to survive the attack.

He said: “This was a very, very serious attack and but for the grace of God we could have been looking at murder here.

“The public will want to know why prison officers are not provided with stab-proof vests and other equipment that police officers get.”

He said the weapon had still to be to identified, but was believed to be a shard of glass.