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The growing dominance of Islamic radical gangs in Britain’s high-quality jails has become a cause of serious concern for the jail administration and security agencies. Hashim Abedi, a 2017 Manchester Arena bomb blast, attacked 3 jail officials in HMP Frankland Jail on 12 April.
Abedi along with his companions attacked with hot oil and sharp weapons, in which 2 officers were badly injured. This attack has once again raised questions about the strengthening extremist network in Britain jails.
According to a London newspaper report, Frankland Jail is currently under the possession of Islamic gangs, where the prisoners are being pressurized or threatened to include them in their gang.
In the last two decades, there has been a big change in the strength of the gangs in the jail.
Number of radical prisoners after 9/11 attacks
The number of radical prisoners in Britain suddenly increased after terrorist attacks like 9/11 in the early 2000s. As of 2017, the number of Muslim prisoners associated with terrorism in Britain jails was 185. By 2024 this number has come down to 157, but still it is 62% of all terrorist prisoners.
Former jail governor Ian Hison had warned that jails were becoming the hub of recruitment and brainwash for fundamentalists. After his report, a separation center for dangerous terrorists was set up, but the situation shows that the problem still remains serious.
Gangs running drugs and black money rackets from jails
A government report in 2019 stated that some jails are active in gangs named Muslim Brotherhood. They are operated through the leader, recruiter, encounter and followers. These gangs have also made Sharia courts in the name of religion, where they even give ‘religious punishment’ on other prisoners.
The number of Muslim prisoners in Britain jails has also increased rapidly. While the number of Muslim prisoners was 5,500 in 2002, it has reached 16,000 by 2024. With this, in many jails, Muslim prisoners run a group in the name of ‘Brotherhood’. Many gangs act as violence, smuggling and threats in the name of religion.
Former prisoner Gary said that the dominance of these gangs is so much that they now run jails. Drugs and money transactions are also done through them. Many prisoners have to be part of the gang forcibly or fear.
Another former prisoner Ryan told his experience that when he was in Belmarsha Jail, the terrorist prisoners there were like a ‘Dharma Guru’ for the rest of the prisoners. Then gradually the common criminals also came in contact with him and started taking the path of fundamentalism.
In the last few years, fundamentalists in Britain have also supported the demand for Sharia law.
Prison staff are unable to tighten these gangs for fear of allegations.
Steve Gilon, general secretary of the British Prison Officers Association, said that the staff could not tighten these gangs due to fear of allegations many times. However, now the situation has changed due to awareness and training.
Mark IK, vice -president of the Prison Governors Association, also admitted ‘Now we are managing them better, but the problem still remains.’ A lawyer recently alleged that prisoners speaking in protest against Islamic gangs in Frankeland Jail had to be put in a separate cell for their safety. However, the jail administration described it as ‘absolutely baseless’.
Experts said- If the action is not taken, the jails will remain the base of the dangers
Security experts believe that the jail administration always tries to suppress its criticisms. Now Abedi’s attack has again raised questions on security. Security expert Ian Hason said Frankland was moving towards a major terrorist attack.
The negligence of the jail department has now come to the fore. This problem has now become normal, which is not being taken seriously. Experts believe that unless strict action is taken against radical Islamic gangs and separatism in jails, Britain’s jails will remain the base of such threats.