Radicalised teenager 'carves Isis slogan onto cellmate's head' in Australian prison

The 18-year-old reportedly used a razor to carve 'e4e' which stands for "eye for an eye" - a popular Isis slogan

Mid North Coast Correctional Centre near Sydney in New South Wales (Google Maps)

A radicalised Australian criminal has allegedly carved an Isis punishment slogan onto the front and back of the head of his 41-year-old cell mate.

Bourhan Hraichie has been charged for grievous bodily harm after being accused of etching "e4e" onto Michael Sean O'Keefe's head.

The 18-year-old then allegedly put a towel over O'Keefe's head before pouring boiling water over him.

"E4e" stands for "eye for an eye" - a well-known Isis slogan. The incident took place at Kempsey Prison in New South Wales near Sydney.

Hraichie was imprisoned for stealing, not for terror-related offences, and officials said he had "clearly identified himself as a radical".

Mr O'Keefe, a former Australian soldier, was placed into an induced coma after suffering a broken sternum but is now thought to be improving.

Before the attack, teenager had previously been placed into isolation for being a "disruptive prisoner".

An investigation has now been launched to find out how Hraichie, a maximum-security prisoner, and his minimum-security victim were placed in the same cell.

Mark Wilson, the head of Corrective Services Security and Intelligence Assistant Commissioner, rejected the suggestion radicalisation was sweeping through prisons in New South Wales.

He said: "There is no widespread extremism in the prisons. The exposure to Isis propaganda is widespread through the media."

Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin told the Daily Telegraph: "Just because you have tendencies of radicalisation does not mean you get automatically isolated.

"However when you engage in violent, extreme behaviour that’s when you need to be separated.

"He shouldn’t have been sharing a cell with anybody."

The general manager of the Mid North Coast prison has been suspended from duty.

Hraichie has been charged by police for causing grievous bodily harm with intent and intentionally choking a person. He is to appear in Kempsey Local Court on 23 May.