Sima Kotecha,Senior UK correspondent and
Jamie Whitehead
PA Media
Soham double murderer Ian Huntley remains in hospital after being attacked by another inmate in a prison workshop.
The 52-year-old has suffered significant head trauma from his injuries and is undergoing treatment, the BBC understands.
Huntley is serving a life sentence for murdering schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in August 2002.
Following the attack, Durham Constabulary said a male prisoner in his mid-40s suspected of carrying out the attack was “in detention” but had not been arrested “at this stage”.
The force also previously confirmed a police investigation is under way and that detectives are liaising with staff at the prison.
Sources have told the BBC Huntley was found lying in a pool of blood after being bludgeoned with a make-shift weapon at HMP Frankland – the high security prison in County Durham.
This is not the first time he had been attacked at the prison – he was slashed across the throat in 2010 – and needed 21 stiches.
The prison is nicknamed monster mansion due to its extreme levels of violence. It houses some of the most dangerous criminals including murderers and rapists.
Huntley was also attacked in 2005 by a convicted murderer who chucked boiling water over him at HMP Wakefield.
As Huntley lies in hospital with serious injuries from the attack, many will be remembering the horror of what he did more than 20 years ago.
The photo of the girls he killed – in their red Manchester United football kits – is etched in the minds of many who vividly remember their disappearance and murder.
It was taken by Holly’s mum Nicola just an hour-and-a-half before they were last seen. It dominated news reports at the time as a nationwide search for them took place.
