A PRISONER at a North-East high security jail has been caught with al Qaida magazine Inspire while in jail, it has emerged.

An inmate at HMP Frankland, near Durham, was found with the banned terror group's publication last year, according to the Ministry of Justice.

The magazine formed part of the prisoner's defence paperwork, but possession of it could be a criminal offence and it was removed.

One 88-page issue of the magazine that year, released in both English and Arabic, focused on 'Assassination Operations' and reportedly urged African Americans to assassinate “racist politicians.”

The Government said other prisoners had also been found with the magazine - in 2011 at Belmarsh Prison, London, in 2012 and 2013 at HMP Manchester and in 2013 at HMP Woodhill, Milton Keynes.

The details were released in response to a parliamentary question tabled by shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon.

Responding to the question, justice minister Sam Gyimah said: "The possession or smuggling of material associated with a proscribed group may be an offence under section two of the Terrorism Act 2006 or under section 22 of the Offender Management Act 2007."

He added: "We will not tolerate extremist material in prisons and where found it is removed and, if appropriate, referred to the police."