Prisoner stabbed to death and two hurt at HMP Pentonville while ex-athletics star Dalton Grant gave a speech to lags
One man in his 20s died and two other lags seriously wounded at troubled category B London nick - with two men now arrested
A PRISON inmate was stabbed to death at a London jail today as former athletics star Dalton Grant was giving a speech to lags.
Police say one prisoner in his 20s died at the scene and two others aged 21 and 30 were seriously injured in a fight at Pentonville nick in Islington.
Two prisoners, a 34-year-old man and a 26-year-old man, have now been arrested in connection with the incident.
They have been taken to a north London police station, Met Police said.
Former Olympic high jumper and GB athletics team captain Grant, 50, was giving a talk inside when the prison was locked down as violence broke out at around 3.30pm.
Emergency services attended and, despite efforts by paramedics, the inmate was pronounced dead at 4.25pm.
The two injured lags were taken to hospital.
Police reinforcements remained stationed at the prison this evening to help keep the peace.
Grant, a board director of the London 2012 Olympic bid team, tweeted: "Giving a talk at Pentonville prison today. Great to give back.
"Had to stay a for a few hours longer. Someone got hurt. Lockdown."
Scotland Yard said: ";Police were called to HMP Pentonville at around 3.30pm on Tuesday following reports of a stabbing.
"Officers and paramedics attended and found three men suffering from stab wounds.
"A man in his twenties was pronounced dead at the scene at 4.25pm. Police are in the process of informing next of kin.
"A post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course. Formal identification awaits.
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"Two other men, aged 21 and 30, have been taken to an east London hospital for treatment of their injuries. We await an update on their condition.
"Officers remain on scene.
"A 34-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and has been taken to a north London police station.
"Further inquiries into the incident continue."
The Ministry for Justice is also investigating the attack at category B Pentonville - where police recently intercepted a drone being used to smuggle drugs and mobile phones inside.
The Victorian prison, which opened in 1842, holds more than 1,200 adults.
An HM Inspectorate of Prisons report in February last year said the jail sees a rapid turnover of more than 100 new prisoners a week and it was "performing poorly" as a result of staff shortages, overcrowding and prisoners' easy access to drugs.
Nick Hardwick, then chief inspector of prisons, said: "Most prisoners felt unsafe; levels of violence were much higher than in similar prisons and had almost doubled since the last inspection."
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