Huntley Beaten in Prison, Faces Next Attack

0:00Here's more news from across the U.K. for February 28th brought to you by NordVPN, fast, reliable, online privacy. Links in the episode description. Ian Huntley, the 52-year-old convicted of murdering 10-year-old girls, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman back in 2002, is fighting. For his life in hospital, after a brutal prison beating, he's been locked up nearly 25 years at high security HMP Franklin in County Durham, where he's long been a prime target for violence. The attack happened Thursday morning around 9 a.m. and a prison recycling workshop. Fellow inmate Anthony Russell, a 43-year-old triple murderer, described by a judge as exceptionally dangerous, allegedly struck Huntley 3. To six times over the head with a three-foot metal pole from a crate, Huntley was left unconscious in a pool of blood before being rushed to care. Inmates on the wing cheered and clapped when they heard the news, with insider saying, there's always a line of prisoners eager to go after him.

1:01Even Huntley's own mother admitted part of her hopes he doesn't pull through this time. After traveling far to see him, Huntley has survived countless assaults over the years, from stabbings and slashings to boiling water attacks and a near fatal throat cut. He's also tried suicide multiple times, once by hoarding pills and tea bags. Despite heavy protection, like multiple guards and intelligence briefings, experts say keeping high profile killers like him, completely safe in such a volatile place is nearly impossible. Prison officials are now probing how Russell got close enough to strike, amid questions over supervision in the workshops. With his history of close calls, if Huntley survives, sources warning likely won't be long before the next one.