Men admit attacking prison officers while wearing fake suicide vests in high-security jail

Brusthom Ziamani and Baz Hockton deny attempted murder but admit wounding prison officer with intent

The 458-capacity HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire (Google Maps)

Two men have admitted attacking prison officers while wearing fake suicide vests in a high-security jail.

Brusthom Ziamani, 24, and Baz Hockton, 26, denied attempting to murder one of the officers at HMP Whitemoor, in Cambridgeshire.

But both men admitted an alternative charge of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm during the incident on 9 January.

Mr Ziamani also pleaded guilty to a count of actual bodily harm and another of assault by beating against two female members of prison staff.

Annabel Darlow QC, for the prosecution, told the Old Bailey that the pair had attacked a male prison guard with homemade weapons.

She said they were wearing “mock suicide belts at the time of the attack” and shouting “Allahu akbar”, meaning “God is great”.

“The prosecution’s case is that the attack had a terrorist intention behind it,” Ms Darlow said.

Mr Ziamani and Mr Hockton, who appeared at their plea hearing on Thursday by video link from HMP Belmarsh, have not been charged with any terror offences.

Justice Juliet May said the defendants would be remanded in custody ahead of a trial due to start on 21 September.