Former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins was raced to hospital on Saturday after being ambushed and stabbed in a prison attack.
Paedophile Watkins, 46, was taken hostage by three fellow inmates before being “roughed up” and stabbed during the siege at HMP Wakefield prison.
Sources said the ambush only ended when a ‘Tornado’ team of specially-trained riot officers hurled stun grenades into the cell in which he was being held.
They are said to have found him with knife wounds, with one source claiming he was stabbed in the neck and had been taken for life-saving treatment at Leeds General Infirmary.
Watkins, the lead-vocalist of rock band Lostprophets, was jailed in 2013 for 13 offences against children.
Police are investigating the attack, with those who took Watkins hostage arrested.
A source told The Sun: “Watkins was attacked today by three pretty heavy-duty cons. They got hold of him on B-wing and dragged him into a cell where they roughed him up and barricaded themselves in.
“He was screaming and was obviously terrified and in fear of his life. They put the whole wing on lockdown and then sent in riot teams.
“Other prisoners heard three loud flash bangs which was when the officers got into the cell and threw grenades to stun the attackers and take them by surprise. It seems like the prison officers might have saved his life.
“Watkins is obviously unpopular because of who he is – and has been walking around with a huge target on his back. They got him on a Saturday, which is generally quieter with less staff on and it seems to have been planned.
“People heard that he was in a bad way when he came out but will probably survive. He was taken to Leeds and was still in hospital.”
Watkins, from Wales, was jailed for 35 years after a shocking trial into his abuse of children – including the attempted rape of a baby.
In 2019, he was convicted of having a banned mobile phone in prison and had another 10 months added to his sentence.
Last night, A Prison Service spokesperson said: “Police are investigating an incident which took place on Saturday at HMP Wakefield. We are unable to comment further while the police investigate.”
Watkins, whose band sold more than 3.5 million albums, filmed himself committing sex acts on a baby boy the day after Lostprophets final album Weapons was released.
He claimed at Cardiff Crown Court that he could not remember the sickening attacks because he was a “heavy user” of crystal meth at the time.
His two co-defendants – fans who were the mothers of victims – were caged for 14 and 17 years each.
