Prison Officer Attacked at London Belmarsh After Supervision Downgrade

Axel Rudakubana, the 18-year-old convicted of murdering three young girls and attempting to murder others in Southport, allegedly attacked a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh by pouring boiling water from a kettle in his cell. His prison supervision was downgraded just weeks prior to the incident, moving him out of constant observation in the healthcare unit despite the high risk he poses. The injured officer was hospitalized as a precaution but is expected to return to duty soon. Prison officials and unions have criticized the decision to grant Rudakubana the same privileges as other inmates, arguing that risk assessments must guide access to items that could be used as weapons. Calls have been made for super-max security units modeled after the American system for dangerous inmates like Rudakubana who are unlikely to reform. The attack has sparked political reactions, with Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick condemning the downgrade as a major security failure and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announcing trials of tasers in prisons and reviews of protective gear for officers.