Ian Watkins killed in knife attack at Wakefield Prison

Ian Watkins, the former frontman of the band Lostprophets serving a lengthy prison sentence for child sexual offences, was killed in a knife attack at HMP Wakefield on the morning of [today]. West Yorkshire Police said the incident occurred at 9:39 a.m. and that emergency services and prison staff responded; Watkins was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead.

Police said detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are leading an investigation into the death. Prison officials confirmed an incident had taken place and said they were unable to comment further while the police investigation is under way. Several people inside the prison told investigators the attack occurred as inmates were being unlocked from their cells and that the prison was placed into immediate lockdown following the incident.

Accounts from inside the establishment said Watkins suffered a severe neck wound, and that staff and medics attempted to save him at the scene before he was transported to hospital by air ambulance. Some prison sources said the assailant had been identified and was apprehended quickly, but police have not publicly named a suspect.

Watkins, 48, had been serving a 35 year...