"Dirty bomber" Barot attacked in jail

By Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters) - A man serving 30 years in jail for planning "dirty bomb" attacks in Britain and plotting to blow up U.S. financial institutions has been scarred for life after an attack in prison, his lawyer said on Monday.

Dhiren Barot, 35, considered by British and U.S. officials to be one of al Qaeda's most senior operatives in Europe after admitting conspiracy to murder last year, suffered a "horrific assault" last Friday, according to his lawyer Muddassar Arani.

She said a prisoner at the maximum security Frankland Prison in Durham had thrown boiling water on Barot's back which had led to a "physical punch up". Later while attending to his burns, another inmate poured boiling oil over his head.

"Eesa (Dhiren) Barot has suffered various burns to his hands, forehead, head, neck and back. Eesa Barot as a result of the boiling oil having been poured over him has lost all of his hair," Arani said in a statement.

"Barot is suffering from extensive pain and has been scarred for the rest of his life."

The Ministry of Justice said it could not comment on individuals but confirmed a prisoner at Frankland had been treated for scalding on the back of his head and his back.

"The Prison Service is currently investigating the incident and have alerted the police," the ministry said in a statement.

Barot is one of the most high-profile prisoners convicted of terrorism offences in Britain since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.