Inmate accused of leaving notorious child murderer Ian Huntley fighting for his life with 'serious' injuries after metal bar attack pictured

The first photograph of Ian Huntley’s alleged attacker has been released, with triple murderer Anthony Russell reportedly the man responsible for life threatening assault.

On Thursday, it was reported by BBC News that the convicted murderer had been seriously injured in prison following an attack from a fellow inmate, who is alleged to have struck Huntley across the head with a metal bar.

Huntley's crimes

Notorious Soham murderer, Huntley, was found guilty of double homicide in August 2003, having killed two children, Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells, the year previously.

Their disappearances led to one of the biggest criminal investigations in UK history, with Huntley, a caretaker at the two girls’ school, found to have kidnapped and fatally attacked the 10-year-olds, before burying their bodies in a nearby irrigation ditch.

Handed two life sentences, with a minimum of 40 years imprisonment, the 52-year-old has been in custody in HMP Frankland, County Durham, a category A prison, famous for housing serial killer Peter Sutcliffe.

Who is the alleged perpetrator?

According to reports, the man in question is Anthony Russell, a 43-year-old triple murderer, who is claimed to have taken the weapon from prison recycling.

Left in a pool of blood, Russell was reportedly handcuffed and led away, shouting: "I've done it, I've done it. I've killed him, I've killed him."

A prison source told the Daily Mail: "Huntley was working in waste management with other prisoners from Wing A, the segregated wing for prisoners who can't be in the normal jail population for their own protection.

"The other prisoner got a metal bar from the waste metal crates and smashed Huntley three times in the head with it. It was a very, very serious injury, having been struck on the skull like that."

It is believed a fight broke out between the two prisoners, before Russell swung at Huntley with the metal pole, hitting him with such force that part of the bar was lodged inside of him.

Huntley, who has now been assaulted while in jail on three separate occasions, once in 2005 when boiling water was thrown over him, and again in 2010 when his throat was slashed, the child murderer has been repeatedly targeted in prison.

A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: "The 52-year-old prisoner who was injured during this morning's assault in the workshop at HMP Frankland remains in a serious condition in hospital following treatment for head injuries.

"Police forensic teams have examined the scene of the attack throughout the day to gather evidence.

"A suspect, a male prisoner in his mid-40s, has been identified by officers investigating the incident. He has not been arrested at this stage, but remains in detention within the prison."

Featured Image credit: Getty Images / ITN