By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) - A former Minneapolis police officer convicted in the murder of George Floyd, a killing that led to nationwide protests, was stabbed Friday in a federal prison in Arizona.

Derek Chauvin was assaulted Friday at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson and was in stable condition, according to CNN.

“An incarcerated individual” was assaulted at the Tucson, Arizona prison at approximately 12.30 pm local time, the Bureau of Prisons said in a statement Friday, and was later confirmed to be Chauvin.

“Responding employees initiated life-saving measures for one incarcerated individual,” and that person was taken to a hospital for treatment, the bureau said. “No employees were injured during the incident,” the statement said.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose office prosecuted Chauvin in the 2020 George Floyd case, was notified that Chauvin was stabbed and is in stable condition, his office said.

“I am sad to hear that Derek Chauvin was the target of violence,” Ellison said in a statement. “He was duly convicted of his crimes and, like any incarcerated individual, he should be able to serve his sentence without fear of retaliation or violence.”

Chauvin was assaulted at the medium-security prison while serving two concurrent sentences in Floyd’s murder.

Floyd, a Black man, was killed on May 25, 2020 by Minneapolis, Minnesota police officer Chauvin, who kneeled on his neck for nearly 10 minutes until he died.

The killing was captured on video and sparked protests across the country against police brutality and racial injustice.​​​​​​​

Chauvin is serving an over 22-year state sentence for murder and manslaughter charges, which is being served concurrently with his 21-year federal civil rights conviction.​​​​​​​