Government Announces New Supermax Units Following Terrorist's Prison Assault
The government has unveiled plans to introduce new, tougher supermax-style prison units for the most violent and disruptive inmates. This major policy shift comes in direct response to a shocking attack carried out by Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi on prison officers last year.
Review Launched After Frankland Incident
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, David Lammy, updated MPs on the findings of a critical review into the incident at HMP Frankland in County Durham. The review was initiated after Abedi, who assisted his brother in the 2017 terrorist attack that killed 22 people, assaulted three officers on April 12, 2025.
Abedi attacked the officers using boiling water and homemade weapons within the prison's separation centre. Mr Lammy paid tribute to the injured staff, describing the CCTV footage of the assault as "truly horrifying".
Independent Reviewer's Critical Findings
Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, was tasked with investigating how the attack occurred and assessing the likelihood of similar incidents. His report identified a clear and urgent need to transform the operation of separation centres, which house some of the most dangerous Islamic terrorist prisoners.
Addressing the House of Commons, Mr Lammy stated: "That is why we will explore all available options to overhaul the system, including at the next spending review, the creation of new, tougher supermax style units for the most violent, disruptive prisoners."
New Tiered System and Legislative Considerations
The Justice Secretary confirmed that ministers will begin designing a new tiered risk assessment system immediately, based on rigorous evaluations of offenders. Mr Hall's review found that the most dangerous prisoners actively seek out weaknesses to exploit within separation centres, noting that "the underlying risk posed by certain terrorist prisoners can never be entirely removed."
Mr Lammy also highlighted challenges posed by the European Convention on Human Rights, particularly Article Eight, regarding the management of terrorist and other dangerous offenders. The government will consider introducing new legislation to protect decisions made by experienced staff working in these high-risk environments.
Ongoing Investment in Staff Safety
The Cabinet minister emphasised his department's commitment to continuing investment in tools, training, and resources to support prison staff. This investment aims to enhance their ability to manage terrorist risks within what he described as "uniquely dangerous environments."
Legal Proceedings and Wider Context
In October 2025, Abedi denied charges of attempting to murder three officers. He also pleaded not guilty to one count of assault causing actual bodily harm and one count of possessing offensive weapons inside a prison. His trial is scheduled for January 2027.
This incident follows a pattern of concerning behaviour. Just one month after Abedi's attack, Southport killer Axel Rudakubana was investigated by police for allegedly throwing boiling water over an officer.
Hashem Abedi is currently serving a 55-year minimum term for his role in helping his suicide bomber brother, Salman, murder 22 people at the Manchester Arena in May 2017. He was arrested in Libya the day after the attack and was successfully extradited to the UK in July 2019. At his Old Bailey trial in August 2020, he offered no defence to charges of assisting in planning the attack at an Ariana Grande concert.
