The Prison Service has issued a statement following the attack suffered by Ian Huntley in jail on Thursday morning. The Soham murderer is understood to have been seriously injured in an ambush launched by another inmate while at HMP Frankland. A Prison Service spokesperson said: "A prisoner is receiving treatment after an incident at HMP Frankland on Thursday morning.
"It would be inappropriate to comment further while police investigate." Police also commented on the incident, with a spokesman for Durham Constabulary adding: "Police were alerted to an assault which had taken place within HMP Frankland in Durham this morning.
"A male prisoner suffered serious injuries during the incident and was transported to hospital. A police investigation is now under way into the circumstances of the incident and detectives are liaising with staff at the prison."
The Sun, which first reported the attack, said Huntley was knocked unconscious with a metal pole. A source told the outlet that his condition was "touch and go".
A prison source said the wing was placed on lockdown following the incident as officers responded to the attack.
It is understood Huntley's injuries are classed as "serious" and required urgent medical treatment before he was taken from the prison under escort.
*** Ensure our latest news headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings. ***
A source said: "It was absolute chaos and Huntley was in a terrible state. I'm amazed someone was able to get anywhere near him because he is usually really closely protected.
"They must have timed it when he wasn’t with prison officers and must have used a weapon to injure him so severely."
The former caretaker killed 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman after they left a family barbecue to buy sweets in Soham, Cambridgeshire, on August 4 2002, then dumped their bodies in a ditch.
He is serving a life sentence for their murders.
