The prison where Soham double murderer Ian Huntley was attacked this morning has housed some of Britain's most infamous criminals — from serial killer Peter Sutcliffe to Manchester Arena terrorist plotter Hashem Abedi.

Known as the 'Monster Mansion' owing to its large number of convicted killers and high-risk sex offenders, HMP Frankland in County Durham is a maximum security facility where some of the most despicable criminals are incarcerated. Housing 800 inmates, the prison opened in 1983 and exclusively holds male prisoners over the age of 21 serving sentences of four years or more, as well as those on life sentences.

This morning, Ian Huntley was assaulted on his prison wing and airlifted to hospital after being discovered lying in a pool of blood. The 52 year old murderer of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman was allegedly targeted by a fellow inmate at around 9am.

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A source described the atmosphere inside the jail as "absolute chaos", telling The Sun "Huntley was in a terrible state.".

Given the stringent security measures at the prison and the notorious criminals it contains, they expressed disbelief that someone as closely monitored as Huntley could have fallen victim to such a brutal assault. "I'm amazed someone was able to get anywhere near him because he is usually really closely protected. They must have timed it when he wasn't with prison officers and must have used a weapon to injure him so severely," the source revealed.

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary confirmed: "Police were alerted to an assault which had taken place within HMP Frankland in Durham this morning. A male prisoner suffered serious injuries during the incident and was transported to hospital. A police investigation is now under way into the circumstances of the incident and detectives are liaising with staff at the prison."

Other notorious inmates who have been held at HMP Frankland include serial killer Levi Bellfield and killer-rapist police officer Wayne Couzens. Lee Rigby's murderer Michael Adebolajo, nail bomber David Copeland and Sally Anne Bowman's killer Mark Dixie have also been detained there.

Each prisoner is accommodated in a single cell which contains a television, washbasin and toilet facilities. As an incentive for good conduct, inmates are supplied with games consoles and DVD players to occupy themselves during their frequently lengthy sentences.

Earlier this year, Huntley had his Xbox confiscated as a sanction for poor behaviour, according to prison insiders. The child-killer was reportedly 'upset' after guards withdrew his privileges for violating rules concerning discipline and possessing contraband.

Prohibited items discovered in his cell are understood to include DVDs, USB sticks and magazines. Huntley is reported to have confessed to violating contraband regulations following a search, and was subsequently relocated to a section of the Category A facility normally designated for elderly prisoners.

A source told The Sun: "He loved his Xbox and played it all the time. But he's most upset at being moved from his cell to one on the bottom floor next to all the old fogies on the wing. Everyone else thinks it's funny and he's the butt of a load of jokes. He's quite arrogant and has been acting like the big 'I am' for ages so this will take him down a peg or two."

Ian Huntley worked as a school caretaker in Soham, Cambridgeshire, when 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman vanished from the peaceful village. One of Britain's most extensive police operations was initiated following the tragic discovery of the schoolgirls' remains two weeks later in a ditch near RAF Lakenheath.

Jessica had departed her home on the morning of August 4, 2002, for a barbecue at Holly's residence. Later that evening, after changing into their now iconic Manchester United shirts, the two girls ventured out to purchase sweets from a local sports centre.

As they made their way back to Holly's residence, they encountered Huntley's home, where the caretaker enticed the pair inside. The events that unfolded after the girls entered the property remain unclear, though their deaths were subsequently determined to be caused by asphyxiation.

Whilst a large-scale search operation was underway to locate the missing girls, Huntley conducted multiple media interviews - before authorities discovered he was responsible for their murders.

In December 2003, Huntley was found guilty of murdering both girls and handed two life sentences. A High Court judge ruled in 2005 that Huntley must serve a minimum of 40 years behind bars, meaning he cannot apply for parole until 2042, when he will be 68.

When imposing the minimum term, Mr Justice Moses said: "The order I make offers little or no hope of the defendant's eventual release".