Prison officer has emergency surgery after stabbing

A prison officer has undergone emergency surgery, the BBC has been told, after being airlifted to hospital with serious injuries sustained when he was stabbed by an inmate at a high-security prison.

Emergency teams were called to HMP Long Lartin in South Littleton, near Evesham, Worcestershire, on Friday just before 08:40 BST.

The member of staff is in a stable condition, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson said, with police adding that a weapon had been recovered.

West Mercia Police said initial investigations suggested there was a disagreement between an inmate and the 25-year-old prison officer that escalated, and described it as an "isolated matter".

Assistant Chief Constable Grant Wills said: "Whilst our investigation is in its early stages, we would like to clarify that this incident is not being treated as terrorism.

"The injured prison officer currently remains in hospital in a stable condition, and we are sending him our best wishes for a full and quick recovery."

The force also posted on X that audio footage circulating on social media claiming to be of the aftermath of the attack was not connected to this incident.

A source has told the BBC the knife used was "not a prison-made weapon" and that it had "somehow been brought in".

The Category A men's prison houses more than 600 inmates, including men convicted of terrorism offences and more than two-thirds are serving life sentences, while the rest have jail terms of 10 years or more.

Earlier this year, the chief inspector of prisons warned about contraband illegally getting to inmates at the prison including gangs using drones to smuggle in weapons, drugs and phones.

"Physical security and counter measures were not robust enough," Charlie Taylor wrote in his report at the time.

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said crews treated the prison officer for serious injuries before he was airlifted to hospital for further treatment.

West Mercia Police said the 22-year-old inmate remained at the prison and the investigation was ongoing.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: "We will not tolerate assaults on hardworking staff and will always push for the strongest punishments against perpetrators."

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