Police investigating alleged attack on prison officer by Southport triple murderer Axel Rudakubana

Police are investigating an alleged attack on a prison officer by Southport triple killer Axel Rudakubana on Thursday.

The convict was in his cell at the time and allegedly heated the water up using a kettle in the room, Sky News understands.

He then threw the boiling water at the officer through a hatch in his cell door, it is claimed.

The member of prison staff was taken to hospital as a precaution but only suffered minor injuries.

A Prison Service spokesperson 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."

Rudakubana is serving life in jail for murdering Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class last year.

Sky News understands the prison officer was discharged from hospital the same day. They are expected to return to work next week.

Cell door hatches are used to pass medication to prisoners.

A source told Sky News that Rudakubana was being held in HMP Belmarsh's healthcare unit at the time.

It comes only weeks after Hashem Abedi, the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, attacked three prison officers at HMP Frankland.

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