Former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins killed in UK prison attack; 2 murder suspects appear in court

British police have arrested two men on suspicion of murder after former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins was stabbed to death in a prison in northern England, where he was serving a 29-year sentence for child sex offences.

Emergency services were called to HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire on Saturday morning after Watkins, 48, was attacked with a knife. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A murder investigation is underway following the arrests of Rashid Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, West Yorkshire Police said in a statement.

Appearing separately at back-to-back court hearings, Dodsworth and Gedel spoke only to confirm their names and dates of birth, BBC News reported.

In 2013, Watkins pleaded guilty to 13 charges, including attempted rape of an infant, sexual touching of a 1-year-old child, encouraging a fan to abuse his child and making child pornography.

At the time of his sentencing, Judge John Royce called Watkins a manipulative and dangerous sexual predator who had abused his fame to help satisfy his “insatiable desire.”

“Those who have appeared in these courts over many years have seen a large number of horrific cases,” Royce said during sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court. “This case, however, breaks new ground.”

Watkins was the lead singer of Lostprophets, a Welsh rock band who topped the UK charts in 2006 with their third album, “Liberation Transmission.” The group announced its disbandment following Watkins’ arrest. In a statement released after his conviction, the other members of the group said they were heartbroken, angry and disgusted by his crimes, adding that their “hearts go out” to his victims, BBC News reported.

Watkins was previously attacked at Wakefield Prison in 2023, although his injuries were not life-threatening on that occasion, BBC News reported.