MINNEAPOLIS - New criminal charges have revealed that former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was stabbed 22 times by an inmate in federal prison just last week. The alleged perpetrator, 52-year-old John Turscak, now faces charges of attempted murder, assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Chauvin was attacked in the law library at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Arizona, where he is currently serving his 22-year sentence for the murder of George Floyd. The charging documents indicate that Turscak used an improvised knife in the stabbing incident.

Reports suggest that Chauvin was badly injured in the assault and was hospitalized following the attack. However, he is said to be in stable condition. Chauvin's attorney, Greg Erickson, expressed disappointment and concern over the prison authorities' handling of the situation, stating that they should have taken stronger measures to prevent such an incident.

The motive behind the attack has been revealed by prosecutors, stating that Turscak claimed it was a symbolic gesture in connection with the Black Lives Matter movement and the "Black Hand" symbol associated with the Mexican Mafia gang. Turscak himself is serving a 30-year sentence for crimes committed while being a member of the Mexican Mafia gang.

While corrections officers reported that Turscak admitted he would have killed Chauvin had they not intervened promptly, the inmate denied wanting to kill the former police officer when questioned by FBI agents. It remains uncertain whether Chauvin will be transferred to a different federal prison in light of the incident.

The investigation into the stabbing is being conducted by the FBI, with prosecution being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office district of Arizona in Tucson. The attack on Chauvin marks the second instance of a high-profile federal prisoner being stabbed in recent months, following the assault on Larry Nassar, the former doctor convicted of molesting members of the U.S. women's national gymnastics team, in a Florida federal prison in July.

As visits at the Tucson prison remain suspended following the stabbing, Chauvin's attorney expressed concerns about the lack of communication with Chauvin's family and urged authorities to enhance security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The developments in the case highlight the challenges faced in ensuring the safety of high-profile inmates while they serve their sentences, as authorities grapple with the delicate balance between security and rehabilitation.