Prisoner suffers possible ‘life-threatening’ injuries in Barwon Prison stabbing

A prisoner has been severely injured during a violent scuffle between suspected rival fractions inside the prison’s maximum security unit.

A prisoner has been left with severe injuries after being stabbed in another outbreak of violence at maximum security Barwon Prison on Wednesday.

The victim, aged in his 20s, suffered multiple wounds when an unknown number of prisoners from rival factions clashed at about 3pm.

Victoria Police described the victim’s injuries as “possibly life-threatening.”

Its officers have been called in to the jail, near Geelong, to investigate.

It has been a period turbulence at the jail, which houses the toughest inmates in the state.

Earlier this month eight staff were injured in a three-day period, sending some to hospital.

The Herald Sun has been told increasing lockdowns had caused friction between staff and inmates.

On March 6, four officers were injured after violence broke out in the Grevillea unit of the jail, near Geelong.

They were left with, among other things, a split head, suspected concussion and knee injury.

On March 4, an officer was treated after being punched in the face and another was attacked by an inmate who had just been taken off a handcuff regimen.

Two other prisoners were transported to hospital after a later bloody clash involving makeshift knives.

Ambulance Victoria confirmed paramedics were called to the prison about 3.15pm.

“Two men were treated for upper body injuries and both were taken to hospital in a stable condition,” an Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said.

Corrections Victoria confirmed the incident had been between a “number of prisoners” and two were taken to hospital for assessment.

No staff were injured, a spokesperson said.