Southport killer Axel Rudakubana ‘attacks prison officer’ as police rush to HMP Belmarsh

GB News can confirm that the convicted murderer is now being probed over the alleged assault.

London's Metropolitan Police is now investigating the incident. Scotland Yard said: "The Met is investigating after a prison officer was subject to a serious assault at HMP Belmarsh on the afternoon of Thursday, May 8."

A Prison Service spokesman said: "Police are investigating an attack on a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh yesterday.

"Violence in prison will not be tolerated and we will always push for the strongest possible punishment for attacks on our hardworking staff."

The officer "miraculously" only suffered minor injuries from the attack and is now expected to return to work next week.

One source told The Sun: "This is terrifying and shocking in equal measure - and questions will be raised about this attack, especially coming so soon after the one by [Manchester Arena bomber's brother Hashem] Abedi.

"One of those will be why Rudakubana had access to boiling or hot water, and how on earth he was able to carry this out."

The source added that other prison guards heard the officer screaming before terror-obsessed Rudakubana was restrained.

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It follows another vile attack on prison guards by Abedi at HMP Frankland in County Durham last month.

The Manchester Arena bomb plotter's "unprovoked attack" left staff with life-threatening injuries including burns, scalds and stab wounds.

He was later moved to Belmarsh - where he was unable to come into contact with the Southport killer.

The high-security facility in southeast London also made headlines at the start of 2025 when Sara Sharif's father Urfan was "sliced in the neck" with a jagged tuna tin lid.

And Rudakubana's alleged assault at the jail comes just two days after a public inquiry into his Southport crimes officially started.

The probe, which will have legal powers to receive evidence and hear witness testimony, formally began on Wednesday.

It will look into the lessons of his crimes - including the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29 last year.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "The brutal murder of three young girls... was an unimaginable tragedy.

"We owe it to their families, and all those affected on that terrible day to quickly understand what went wrong, answer difficult questions and do everything in our power to prevent something like this from happening again.

"The Southport Inquiry will provide insights into any failings that allowed a young man with a previous history of violence, to commit this horrendous attack."

And the 18-year-old's alleged assault in prison came a day before three police officers who confronted and detained him in Southport were nominated for bravery awards.

Sergeant Gregory Gillespie, Constable Luke Holden and PCSO Timothy Parry were the first officers to arrive on the scene last July.

Gillespie was first to arrive at the Hart Street dance class after a radio call at midday to reports of a male attacking children with a knife.

He described seeing "chaos" when he arrived, and said he directed paramedics to care for a child who had been left "seriously injured" by Rudakubana.

He was joined by Holden and Parry.

All three of the officers watched as members of the public fled the studio carrying young children in their arms - before heroically charging inside to confront the murderer.

Armed with a baton and a Taser, Gillespie and Holden entered the building as Parry covered the exit.

The former pair found Rudakubana holding a large knife at the top of the stairs.

Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: "We are all immensely proud of PS Gillespie, PC Holden and PCSO Parry for their courage, professionalism and swift actions in such horrendous circumstances.

"For the officers to be recognised in this way is true testament to them all."