A terrorist inspired by Lee Rigby's murder launched a bladed attack on a prison officer while wearing a fake suicide vest, a court heard.

Brusthom Ziamani, 24, who was jailed in 2015 for his plot to behead a soldier in south east London, and Baz Hockton, 26, attacked prison officer Neil Trundle at HMP Whitemoor, it was said.

Ziamani is also accused of violently attacking female prison officers Georgina Ibbotson and Jayne Cowles at the Cambridgeshire jail during the incident on January 9.

The pair, both British and of HMP Prison Service, were charged with attempted murder while Ziamani was also charged with ABH and common assault by beating in relation to the two female prison officers.

They appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today (Wed) where bearded Ziamani was escorted into the dock by three officers, wearing green and white prison uniform.

Hockton, also bearded and wearing a grey tracksuit, shortly followed into the dock where he shook hands with his fellow inmate, and spoke only to confirm his nationality as "white British."

Prosecutor Angela England said: "There are three charges for Mr Ziamani, being the joint charge of attempted murder with Mr Hockton.

"Also two further charges, one in relation to the offence on another member of staff and one being common assault on another member of staff at HMP Whitemoor.

Prosecutor Angela England said: "Both men were wearing improvised suicide belts that they had constructed. They were not explosive."

She added: "Both had improvised weapons that were manufactured by those men or obtained by them.

"There were three weapons, one which was a large plastic white handle object known as a 'shank.' "It usually contains a slashing or a razor blade type edge."

She also told of a"sharp metal" object used, with fabric tied around both ends as a handle.

Neither of the prisoners entered a plea and will next appear at the Old Bailey in April.

Chief magistrate and senior district judge Emma Arbuthnot said: "The next appearance will be at the Old Bailey, the central criminal court, on April 8.

"That will be a short hearing where you will be asked to enter your pleas no doubt.

"No bail obviously, you are serving prisoners so you cannot be expecting to have bail."

In 2015, Ziamani was arrested on an east London street carrying a 12in (30.5cm) knife and a hammer in a rucksack, having earlier researched the location of Army cadet bases in the south east London.

Earlier he had shown his ex-girlfriend weapons, described Fusilier Rigby's killer Michael Adebolajo as a "legend" and told her he would "kill soldiers".