UK: A Muslim prisoner who attacked a prison guard is known to frequently shout “Allahu Akbar” and reportedly said that harming someone “felt good”

Image: Jihad Watch

A disturbing case has emerged from one of Britain’s high-security prisons involving Callom Taylor, a 22-year-old inmate from Sheffield with a violent criminal history and a reported record of extremist behavior behind bars. Taylor, who was previously jailed for a spree of brutal assaults, recently stabbed a prison officer using a flick knife that was allegedly smuggled into the facility via drone—a growing concern within the UK’s prison system.

Taylor, described as a white convert to Islam, has been serving time in Long Lartin Prison, a maximum-security institution near Evesham, Worcestershire. Sources within the facility say Taylor frequently yells “Allahu Akbar” on the prison wing and is often seen carrying a prayer mat. According to multiple reports, he became increasingly erratic and aggressive following his conversion, displaying signs of paranoia and obsessive behavior—particularly toward other inmates or staff whom he believed had disrespected him.

The stabbing incident led to Taylor being airlifted to a hospital for emergency surgery, highlighting the severe nature of the confrontation. Though details about his injuries remain limited, the prison officer’s condition sparked further scrutiny of prison safety measures and inmate behavior within high-risk units.

Taylor’s descent into violence began long before this incident. He was imprisoned in 2022 after committing a string of vicious assaults, including a three-month campaign during which he stabbed four individuals and attacked a fifth with nunchucks. During his sentencing, a psychiatric report revealed chilling insights: Taylor admitted to experiencing powerful compulsions to harm others, acknowledging that "in a way, it felt good to hurt someone."

Since his incarceration, Taylor reportedly embraced Islam. While conversion in prison is not uncommon and is often a personal spiritual decision, experts have warned about the potential for radicalization within prison walls. Long Lartin, in particular, has previously housed convicted terrorists and individuals linked to extremist groups, making it a site of concern for counter-terrorism authorities.

One prison source commented, “The lad converted a while ago and since then it’s like he’s become someone else. He became even more paranoid and obsessive, constantly going on about people disrespecting him. He carries a prayer mat and shouts Allahu Akbar regularly.”

The knife used in the attack was believed to have been delivered by drone—a method increasingly used by criminal networks to supply inmates with contraband including mobile phones, drugs, and weapons. A prison insider said, “The drone drops here are out of control. They fly in phones, knives, and drugs.” Security experts have repeatedly warned about the growing sophistication of smuggling operations inside British prisons, which now include the use of GPS-enabled drones and inside collaborators.

Taylor's case brings to light a confluence of critical issues: the mental health crisis among inmates, the failure of rehabilitation systems, the vulnerabilities of high-security prisons to external interference via technology, and the delicate balance between religious freedom and monitoring of potential radicalization.

While conversion to Islam does not inherently lead to violence, prison authorities must walk a careful line—ensuring the right to religious expression while remaining vigilant against signs of extremism, especially in environments already susceptible to ideological influence and peer pressure.

The UK Ministry of Justice has repeatedly emphasized its commitment to tackling prison radicalization and contraband smuggling, but incidents like this raise urgent questions about the effectiveness of those measures.

As the investigation continues, Taylor’s case may serve as a troubling example of how untreated psychological conditions, prison radicalization, and security lapses can collide—often with violent and far-reaching consequences.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)