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| Pentonville Prison stabbing: Inmate killed and two injured | Pentonville Prison stabbing: Inmate killed and two injured |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A prisoner has died and two others were critically injured in a stabbing at HMP Pentonville, leading to claims the prison system is in a "dark place". | A prisoner has died and two others were critically injured in a stabbing at HMP Pentonville, leading to claims the prison system is in a "dark place". |
| Jamal Mahmoud, 21, died at the London prison on Tuesday. Two prisoners, aged 34 and 26, have been arrested on suspicion of murder. | |
| BBC News understands the weapon used was a "hunting-style knife". | BBC News understands the weapon used was a "hunting-style knife". |
| The motive is not yet clear, although claims about a dispute between gangs or drugs debts are being investigated. | The motive is not yet clear, although claims about a dispute between gangs or drugs debts are being investigated. |
| It is understood the stabbings happened in a prison wing and inmates were then moved into the jail's exercise yard, according to the BBC's Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw. | It is understood the stabbings happened in a prison wing and inmates were then moved into the jail's exercise yard, according to the BBC's Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw. |
| He said a prison source had told the BBC the knife used in the attack had been recovered, and described it as "bigger than a Bowie knife but smaller than a machete". | He said a prison source had told the BBC the knife used in the attack had been recovered, and described it as "bigger than a Bowie knife but smaller than a machete". |
| The weapon was not improvised, the source said. | The weapon was not improvised, the source said. |
| Mahmoud was attacked on the fifth floor landing of one of the prison wings, before being thrown over the railings, falling about 30ft (nine metres). | |
| Mahmoud, from Enfield in north London, was jailed in July for helping to hide a machine gun. | |
| A friend of the dead man, Danny Rynne, a scaffolder from Enfield, described him as "small" and "placid". | |
| "He's got a girlfriend who's just had a baby that was born two weeks ago. It's a shame what happened. I don't know too much about what it's about but it's a shock to everyone," Mr Rynne said. | |
| How dangerous are our prisons? | How dangerous are our prisons? |
| The Prison Governors Association (PGA) said inmates at Pentonville were living in "squalid and brutal conditions". | The Prison Governors Association (PGA) said inmates at Pentonville were living in "squalid and brutal conditions". |
| "If a society is judged by how it treats those it locks up, then we are in a very dark place," it said. | "If a society is judged by how it treats those it locks up, then we are in a very dark place," it said. |
| The association has renewed calls for a public inquiry amid what it said was an "unprecedented" rise in prison violence and suicides. | The association has renewed calls for a public inquiry amid what it said was an "unprecedented" rise in prison violence and suicides. |
| In response to those comments, a Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesperson said the justice secretary had made clear that safety in prisons was "fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system and a vital part of our reform plans". | In response to those comments, a Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesperson said the justice secretary had made clear that safety in prisons was "fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system and a vital part of our reform plans". |
| "We are fully committed to addressing the significant increase in violence, self-harm and self-inflicted deaths in our prisons," the spokesperson added. | "We are fully committed to addressing the significant increase in violence, self-harm and self-inflicted deaths in our prisons," the spokesperson added. |
| The MoJ said measures would include spending an extra £14m in 10 prisons and increasing staffing levels by more than 400 prison officers. | The MoJ said measures would include spending an extra £14m in 10 prisons and increasing staffing levels by more than 400 prison officers. |
| Analysis: BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw | Analysis: BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw |
| Pentonville's Governor Kevin Reilly has noted that in recent weeks people had "felt anxious" about violence at the jail. | Pentonville's Governor Kevin Reilly has noted that in recent weeks people had "felt anxious" about violence at the jail. |
| Writing in an internal newsletter, seen by BBC News, Mr Reilly said reducing violence was one of his "top five priorities". | Writing in an internal newsletter, seen by BBC News, Mr Reilly said reducing violence was one of his "top five priorities". |
| He said although there had been a slight reduction in violent incidents during the month, people remained concerned. | He said although there had been a slight reduction in violent incidents during the month, people remained concerned. |
| In July the Pentonville Independent Monitoring Board said the government should "knock down" or "urgently upgrade" the 174-year-old prison. | In July the Pentonville Independent Monitoring Board said the government should "knock down" or "urgently upgrade" the 174-year-old prison. |
| The board said the jail was "decrepit" and blamed the former legal high Spice for driving an illicit economy which in turn had led to violence, self-harm and bullying. | The board said the jail was "decrepit" and blamed the former legal high Spice for driving an illicit economy which in turn had led to violence, self-harm and bullying. |
| In its annual report on Pentonville, the board said there were 16 violent incidents each week but the number had fallen year on year. | In its annual report on Pentonville, the board said there were 16 violent incidents each week but the number had fallen year on year. |
| The Pentonville death is the third killing this year in jails in England and Wales, and the 11th since the start of 2015. | The Pentonville death is the third killing this year in jails in England and Wales, and the 11th since the start of 2015. |
| Visitors queuing to see friends and relatives inside the prison spoke of their safety concerns. | Visitors queuing to see friends and relatives inside the prison spoke of their safety concerns. |
| "My son is 21. I haven't felt the same since I heard the news," one woman said. | "My son is 21. I haven't felt the same since I heard the news," one woman said. |
| "As a mother everyone tells you at least you know where he is and he is safe - but actually he's not safe, is he? | "As a mother everyone tells you at least you know where he is and he is safe - but actually he's not safe, is he? |
| "No matter their age or what they have done, no-one deserves to die in prison." | "No matter their age or what they have done, no-one deserves to die in prison." |
| "What has happened is horrendous," former prisons minister Andrew Selous told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "What has happened is horrendous," former prisons minister Andrew Selous told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| "I have met the parents of prisoners who have been murdered and it is horrific and my deepest sympathy goes out to all those affected. | "I have met the parents of prisoners who have been murdered and it is horrific and my deepest sympathy goes out to all those affected. |
| "The government absolutely gets the seriousness of the violence issues, there is a huge amount of work being done to reduce violence." | "The government absolutely gets the seriousness of the violence issues, there is a huge amount of work being done to reduce violence." |
| The director of the Prison Reform Trust, Peter Dawson, called for fewer people to be sent to jail to "reduce the pressure" on prisons. | The director of the Prison Reform Trust, Peter Dawson, called for fewer people to be sent to jail to "reduce the pressure" on prisons. |
| "The Victorians thought [Pentonville] could accommodate 900 prisoners... we say it can accommodate up to 1,300. | "The Victorians thought [Pentonville] could accommodate 900 prisoners... we say it can accommodate up to 1,300. |
| "That means in practice that almost everybody in a prison like Pentonville can expect to share a cell which the Victorians thought was fit for one person." | "That means in practice that almost everybody in a prison like Pentonville can expect to share a cell which the Victorians thought was fit for one person." |
| No prison officers are understood to have been injured in the attack, the Prison Officers' Association said. | No prison officers are understood to have been injured in the attack, the Prison Officers' Association said. |
| In a statement, the union said "the unprecedented rise in violence in all of our prisons must not be underestimated". | In a statement, the union said "the unprecedented rise in violence in all of our prisons must not be underestimated". |
| It added: "We now ask for the Ministry of Justice to fully investigate this matter and the underlying problems within the prison estate." | It added: "We now ask for the Ministry of Justice to fully investigate this matter and the underlying problems within the prison estate." |
| In July 2015, the then Justice Secretary Michael Gove said: "Pentonville is the most dramatic example of failure within the prison estate, but its problems, while more acute than anywhere else, are very far from unique," | In July 2015, the then Justice Secretary Michael Gove said: "Pentonville is the most dramatic example of failure within the prison estate, but its problems, while more acute than anywhere else, are very far from unique," |
| A Prison Service spokesman said: "Police are investigating an incident at HMP Pentonville. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage." | A Prison Service spokesman said: "Police are investigating an incident at HMP Pentonville. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage." |
| Pentonville Prison | Pentonville Prison |