Police have launched a murder investigation after a prisoner was fatally attacked at a high-security London prison.
A 36-year-old inmate was found with head injuries after an assault at HMP Belmarsh just after 8pm on Tuesday.
He was taken to hospital in a critical condition but died the following evening, police said.
Two inmates, both 28-year-old men, were arrested after police were called to the scene in Thamesmead, south east London, on Tuesday night.
Detective Chief Inspector Richard Leonard of the Metropolitan Police said: “We are working to establish the circumstances surrounding this incident with the support of Serco and local officers.
“At this stage I am open minded concerning motive, but expect this to become clear as the investigation progresses.”
There is no indication that the attack was terror-related.
Police said the victim’s family had been informed of his death but a post mortem examination is yet to be carried out.
Belmarsh is one of only three high-security “core” local prisons in England and Wales and has housed some of Britain’s most high-profile prisoners.
Inmates known to have been housed in the prison are Michael Adebolajo, one of the killers of soldier Lee Rigby; Finsbury Park terror attacker Darren Osborne; and radical preacher Anjem Choudary before his release from jail in 2018.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “A prisoner at HMP Belmarsh died in hospital on February 19 and our sympathies are with his family and friends.
“It would be inappropriate to comment further while a police investigation is ongoing.”
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