Former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins was killed following a knife attack in prison earlier this week, and now two men have been arrested in connection.
Police in West Yorkshire, England, announced that a 25-year-old man and a 43-year-old man have been arrested on suspicion of murder at HMP Wakefield and are currently in custody.
On Friday (October 11), West Yorkshire Police announced that Watkins was stabbed by an inmate in prison and died from his injuries.
"At 9.39am this morning (Saturday), police were called by staff at HMP Wakefield reporting an assault on a prisoner," police statement read. "Emergency services attended and the man was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. Detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are investigating and inquiries remain ongoing at the scene."
Watkins was serving a 29-year sentence at HMP Wakefield after being convicted of child sex crimes. According to BBC News, the singer "admitted the attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13 but pleaded not guilty to rape."
Watkins was previously stabbed in an incident at the same prison two years ago, although his wounds weren't life-threatening. The singer was allegedly taken hostage by other inmates.
In the 2024 book Life Behind Bars In The Monster Mansion, authors Jonathan Levi and Emma French claimed that Watkins had "spent thousands on protection" while in prison.
In 2017, Watkins was alleged to have been grooming a 21-year-old mother while in prison. Her child was taken into care by social services afterwards.
"We’re sickened," said a spokesperson for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children at the time. "It’s utterly bewildering that he could carry on grooming. It shows contempt for the children he abused, and raises serious questions about supervision."
