Southport killer Axel Rudakubanu has thrown scorching water over a prison guard, in a horrifying pre-planned attack from a landing.
The 18-year-old triple murderer, who was sentenced to 52 years for the murders of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancome, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, poured boiling water over the officer at HMP Belmarsh in southeast London on Thursday.
Other guards heard their colleague’s screams and restrained Rudakubana following the attack.
It was feared the killer had added sugar to the scalding water in a bid to cause more severe injuries.
However, it is understood that the prison officer was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure and was discharged later that day. He is due to return to work next week.
A source told The Sun: ‘It seems miraculous he was not more badly hurt, and luckily the water was not mixed with sugar.
Saying that Rudakubana’s regime would ‘now be incredibly strict’, they added: ‘He is clearly not rehabilitated at all, and someone like him has nothing to lose.’
An investigation has since been launched to determine how Rudakubanu obtained boiling water to throw over a prison guard.
The Prison Service said: ‘Police are investigating an attack on a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh.
‘Violence in prison will not be tolerated and we will always push for the strongest possible punishment for attacks on our hard-working staff.’
A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: ‘The Met is investigating after a prison officer was subject to a serious assault at HMP Belmarsh on the afternoon of Thursday, 8 May.’
It comes after the Southport monster was jailed for life after launching an attack on a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last July, where he murdered three young girls.
He has been caged on the same secure unit as Manchester Arena terrorist, Hashem Abedi, who assaulted prison guards in HMP Frankland last month.
It is believed Abedi is in a segregation unit where prisoners do not have any contact with other inmates.