Ian Huntley Remains Critically Ill After Prison Assault by Triple Killer
Child killer Ian Huntley remains in a serious condition in hospital five days after being brutally attacked by a fellow inmate at HMP Frankland. The Soham murderer, who killed ten-year-old schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002, was assaulted with a metal pole last Thursday in what sources describe as an "unbelievably savage" attack.
Details of the Violent Assault
According to prison sources, triple murderer Anthony Russell allegedly struck Huntley up to 15 times with a three-foot metal pole as the 52-year-old was bending down to tie string on a recycling crate. The attack occurred at the Category A prison near Durham, where Huntley was working in waste management alongside other protected prisoners.
Witnesses reported that Russell shouted "I've done it, I've done it" immediately after the assault, expressing disappointment that he hadn't killed Huntley. Paramedics and an air ambulance were called to the scene, with prison staff initially believing the attack had been fatal.
Current Medical Condition
Durham Constabulary confirmed today that there has been no change in Huntley's condition overnight. The convicted murderer remains in hospital on life support after being placed in a medically induced coma following the assault. A police spokesman stated: "He remains in hospital in a serious condition."
Background of the Attacker
Anthony Russell, 39, is serving a whole-life tariff for the murders of Julie Williams, 58, her son David Williams, 32, and pregnant 31-year-old Nicole McGregor, whom he also raped. The triple killer was sentenced in 2021 for these separate crimes committed in Coventry and near Leamington Spa.
Russell has reportedly admitted to the attack on Huntley during police interviews and was seen smirking as he was handcuffed and led toward the prison chapel following the incident. He has been moved to segregation but has not been formally arrested.
Reactions and Prison Security
Huntley's only daughter, Samantha Bryan, 27, told The Sun on Sunday: "There's a special place in hell waiting for him," adding that she cried from relief when she learned about the attack. Meanwhile, prison sources claim there had been a "queue" of inmates wanting to kill Huntley, including Darren Osborne, the Finsbury Park Mosque attacker.
The attack has prompted a lockdown at HMP Frankland, with officers searching cells for weapons amid fears of copycat assaults. A former prison officer warned that the incident could inspire similar attacks, noting that prisoners who gain public notoriety are particularly at risk.
History of Attacks on Huntley
This represents the latest in a series of attempts on Huntley's life during his imprisonment. In 2010, robber Damien Fowkes slashed Huntley's neck with a homemade weapon, causing a seven-inch wound that required 21 stitches. Fowkes asked a prison officer afterward: "Is he dead? I hope so," describing Huntley as a "notorious child killer, both inside prison and in society in general."
Huntley had been kept under close observation to prevent such attacks, working on Wing A alongside other protected prisoners including sex offenders and jailed police officers. These inmates move around the prison as a group and remain segregated from the general population for their own safety.
Prison Environment and Aftermath
One visitor to the prison described Huntley as looking like he had been "ripped apart like a rat," while another source said his condition was "touch and go" and described the scene on the wing as "absolute chaos."
Despite some prisoners potentially celebrating the attack, sources believe many inmates will be unhappy about the disruption to their routines. HMP Frankland houses only convicted prisoners serving sentences for serious crimes, with most having accepted their circumstances and following prison rules.
The prison, nicknamed "Monster Mansion" for housing some of Britain's most dangerous criminals, has heightened security following the incident. Officers are particularly vigilant about preventing copycat attacks targeting notorious prisoners.
