Ministers were told they must “get a grip” of Islamist extremists in prisons after one of the Manchester Arena bombing plotters went on the rampage.

Hashem Abedi attacked three prison officers, stabbing them and throwing hot butter or margarine in their faces.

The officers suffered life-threatening injuries including burns, scalds and stab wounds in the “unprovoked” and “vicious” attack.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said the attack comes after concerns about extremists “controlling” wings in high-security prisons.

Mr Jenrick told the Daily Express: “We need to know the truth and the Ministry of Justice needs to get a grip.

“It comes following serious concerns about the prison leadership’s ability to contain the threat from Islamist extremist inmates. Self-styled ‘Muslim Brotherhood’ leaders control wings in many high-security prisons.

“Instead of isolating them, the system is protecting them - not officers or the public.

“Islamist gangs run shadow sharia courts, dictate diets and enforce their rules with threats and flogging. Officers fear being labelled racist if they step in. This is appeasement, not punishment.”

Abedi, 28, who was jailed for life for helping his brother carry out the 2017 suicide bombing.

The Islamist terrorist was handed a record-breaking 55-year minimum term in August 2020 which he is currently serving at the category A HMP Frankland.

Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation into an attack on three prison officers.

One female officer was discharged from hospital on Saturday afternoon. Two male officers suffered “severe stab wounds” and remained in hospital in a stable condition.

The Ministry of Justice has vowed to carry out a review into the attack.

But justice chiefs last night faced growing questions over how one of Britain’s most notorious criminals was able to access weapons and hot liquids that can be used in attacks.

Category A is the highest level of security and Frankland has housed other notorious inmates, including Fusilier Lee Rigby’s terrorist killer Michael Adebolajo, Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, and Charles Bronson.

Separation centres, introduced in 2017, aim to control prisoners with extreme views by preventing them from radicalising other inmates or committing more acts of violence.

Prison officers fear “copycat attacks” and said terrorists held in “separation centres” should only have “basic entitlements” because they are hellbent on hurting “everyone they come into contact with.”

Mark Fairhurst, of the Prison Officers Association, said the attack was carried out in a separation centre where inmates are allowed to use cooking facilities.

He told the BBC: “To allow that type of prisoner to access the kitchen and use the utensils that can be used as weapons against staff, and can inflict serious harm on staff, that needs to be removed immediately.

“We’re now worried about the knock-on effect of this and copycat incidents.

“It’s very difficult to get someone into the separation centre because of the process you have to go through, so the intelligence really needs to be on the ball to get someone contained in the separation centre.”

“A separation centre is there for a reason,” he said. “All we need to do with those types of prisoners is give them their basic entitlements.

“Separation centres should be for control and containment because these people are not going to change their ideologies and they are intent on inflicting harm on everyone they come into contact with.”

Steve Gillan, the General Secretary of the Prison Officers Association, added: “At least two had either hot butter or hot margarine thrown over them and then started to stab them with a makeshift weapon.

“These people are ingenious and they will use anything they get their hands on.

“The officers were stabbed several times with a makeshift blade, weapon. We haven’t got stab vests and that’s a real issue.

“You see security guards in supermarkets with stab vests but prison officers don’t have them. Prison officers are dealing with people who are clearly a danger to society and a danger to prison officers.

“There will be a lot of anger. I’ve got real concerns about butter or margarine being allowed in the area of the separation unit used for self-cooking, so they can heat it up and throw it at staff.

“We are calling for all those materials to be withdrawn. The officers suffered third degree burns in this attack.

“This was a cowardly attack and didn’t make any sense whatsoever. But of course this individual has nothing to lose. It’s absolutely shocking and despicable.”

Chris Phillips, the former head of the National Counter Terrorism Security Office, said: “I don’t think it is any secret Islamism is ruling some of them at the moment. They are the biggest gang.

“They are not de-radicalised, and clearly, this man is never going to be de-radicalised.

“They can’t be given access to these types of things. Prison officers have a right to their own life as well.

“These people should have very little rights. They should be kept in containment and on their own.

“We’re too busy worrying about their health and making sure that they are looked after, that they get their human rights, than we are the prison officers.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Our thoughts remain with the two prison officers still in hospital as they recover.

“There will be a full review into how this attack was able to happen, alongside the separate police inquiry.

“The Government will do whatever it takes to keep our hardworking staff safe.”