Douglas Murray has criticised the prison attack by Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi as "a failing in the prison system" and "a failing of security".
Speaking on GB News, Murray highlighted broader concerns beyond the immediate incident.
"There's a tendency to look at the first bit of the problem and not the wider problem," he said.
Murray pointed to systemic issues within British prisons where jihadists have established their own networks.
Douglas Murray wants whoever responsible for Abedi's presence in Britain to be held accountable
GB NEWS / GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE
"The wider problem includes not just why there are so many people in prison, but there are Jihadists who effectively set up gangs in our prisons," he stated.
His comments follow an incident at HMP Frankland where Abedi allegedly attacked three prison officers.
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The Prison Officers' Association reported the officers suffered "life threatening injuries including burns, scalds and stab wounds" after Abedi threw hot cooking oil over them and used homemade weapons.
Murray also questioned the presence of the Abedi family in Britain in the first place.
"Eight years on from the Manchester Arena attack, we still don't know the answer," he said.
The commentator suggested there were unresolved questions about how the family came to settle in the UK.
Douglas Murray spoke to Camilla Tominey on GB News
GB NEWS
"Abedi's family seems to have fallen out with Colonel Gaddafi because they were from rival Jihadist groups," Murray explained.
He expressed concern about Britain's immigration policies regarding individuals with potential extremist connections.
"Why is Britain the place where people who fall out with other Jihadists come to continue their lives?" he asked.
His remarks highlight ongoing debates about security vetting and immigration controls for those with alleged links to extremist organisations.
The Manchester Arena bombing in 2017 killed 22 people when Salman Abedi detonated a suicide bomb at an Ariana Grande concert.
Hashem Abedi, who is serving a minimum 55-year life sentence for his role in the Manchester Arena bombing, allegedly carried out an "unprovoked" attack on prison officers at HMP Frankland in Durham.
The incident occurred on Saturday according to the BBC.
The Prison Officers' Association described it as a "vicious" and "cowardly" attack.
Three officers sustained "life threatening injuries" after Abedi allegedly threw hot cooking oil over them and then used homemade weapons to stab them.
Mark Fairhurst, National Chair of the Prison Officers' Association, said: "No Officer should be subject to cowardly and vicious attacks at work."
He called for a review of freedoms allowed to separation centre prisoners.
"I am of the opinion that allowing access to cooking facilities and items that can threaten the lives of staff should be removed immediately," Fairhurst stated.
The Prison Service confirmed the officers have been treated in hospital and police are investigating the incident.
