LONDON (AP) — One of Britain’s most notorious child killers died Saturday, days after being attacked by a fellow inmate in the workshop of a maximum-security prison.

Ian Huntley, a 52-year-old former school janitor convicted in 2003 of the murder of two 10-year-old girls, had been on life support after being repeatedly hit in the head with a metal bar at Frankland prison in northeast England on February 26.

The murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman had paralyzed Britain for two weeks after the best friends disappeared from the village of Soham in eastern England on August 4, 2002 after leaving a barbecue to buy sweets.

For 13 days, police searched for the couple, hoping they were alive. A photo of the girls wearing red Manchester United football shirts, taken just before they disappeared, became a fixture on front pages and in the news as detectives mounted a major search.

Thousands of people visited Soham in a huge demonstration of concern, leaving hundreds of bouquets in front of the local church.

The search ended when a group of hikers discovered the girls’ remains next to a dirt road in a wooded area a few kilometers from town.

“The murder of remains one of the most shocking and devastating cases in our nation’s history, and our thoughts are with his families,” the UK Ministry of Justice said in a statement.

Huntley denied murdering the two 10-year-old boys, but was convicted following a trial at London’s Central Criminal Court in 2003. His life sentence recommended he serve at least 40 years.

While in prison, Huntley survived repeated attempts on his life and was under close protection along with other notorious murderers. In an incident in 2010, another inmate slit his throat.

At the time of the murders, Huntley was living with Maxine Carr, an assistant teacher at Holly and Jessica’s elementary school. Carr gave Huntley a false alibi and he was subsequently jailed for 21 months for perverting the course of justice. Now he lives under a new identity.

Huntley and Carr spoke often to reporters during the search for the girls. Huntley had told them that he thought he was one of the last people to see them alive, while Carr said he would always keep a card that Holly had drawn for him.

British media have reported that murderer and rapist Anthony Russell, 43, was responsible for the attack that ultimately caused Huntley’s death.

Durham Police are investigating the circumstances of the incident which led to Huntley’s death and a file is being prepared for the Crown Prosecution Service to consider charges.