Axel Rudakubana, who murdered three young girls in the savage Southport stabbing attack, threw scalding water over a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh in south-east London

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana attacked a prison officer, throwing scalding water over them, it has been reported tonight.

The attack reportedly happened on Thursday at HMP Belmarsh in south-east London, where Rudakubana, 18, is serving a minimum of 52 years for murdering three young girls last year. Officers working at the unit are said to have been alerted to the guard’s screams, where they found their injured colleague and restrained Rudakubana. The guard was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital as a precautionary measure after the attack and was released that evening. It is believed the officer is expected to return to work next week.

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana is serving a minimum of 52 years at HMP Belmarsh(Image: PA)

A Prison Service spokesperson told The Mirror: “Police are investigating an attack on a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh yesterday. Violence in prison will not be tolerated and we will always push for the strongest possible punishment for attacks on our hardworking staff.”

It is understood that an internal investigation will now took place as to how Rudakubana got hold of hot water. It has been reported that the murderer launched a pre-planned attack on a landing of HMP Belmarsh. It comes after Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hasehem Abedi, 28, injured four guards at HMP Frankland in Durham last month.

Abedi used homemade weapons and hot oil to attack the officers on April 12. The attack has led to calls for prison officers to have stab vests.

And their union – the Prison Officers’ Association – has demanded that guards need Tasers. Mark Fairhurst, chairman of the POA said: “We want specially trained staff with the ability to deploy Taser. We are dealing with terrorist offenders determined to kill an officer.”

Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were killed in the attack(Image: PA)

Abedi was moved to Belmarsh, but it is understood he has not come into contact with Rudakubana. The Southport killer murdered Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and injured 10 others as they attended a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.

Yesterday it emerged that the three police officers who confronted and detained Rudakubana have been nominated for bravery awards. Earlier this week a report into the riots following the Southport murder warned that police must never again be caught out by sinister online lies. The report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services said police needed to react faster to the false claims about the killer.