BOSTON — The three inmates accused of ambushing correction officers in a “vicious attack,” including stabbing one guard 12 times, faced a “sea of blue” of officers during their arraignment on Thursday.

That “sea of blue” of 50 officers from the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union featured the injured officers from the September attack at the maximum security Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center.

The three inmates — Jose Crespo, Jeffrey Tapia, and Heriberto Rivera-Negron — all pleaded not guilty during Thursday’s arraignment in Worcester Superior Court.

They’re accused of attacking the correction officers with homemade “shiv” weapons at the max-security prison on Sept. 18. At around 6:20 p.m. that day, the Massachusetts Department of Correction received a report of multiple correction officers being injured inside the prison.

Two officers had been doing their hourly rounds when they were attacked from behind by inmates. One of the guards was stabbed 12 times, and the other guard was stabbed in the back and the head.

In all, five officers were injured: two suffering from stab wounds and three more injured while responding to the fracas.

The three inmates were charged with mayhem, armed assault to murder, and assault to murder following September’s assault.

Dennis Martin, president of the correction officers’ union MCOFU, called it a “vicious attack” — and stressed that the union had been warning about an uptick in weapons in prisons, and predicted such a brutal assault.

“Our continued thoughts and prayers are with the officers and their families who are affected by these heinous and senseless acts of violence,” Martin said outside the Worcester courthouse on Thursday, as dozens of officers stood next to him and behind him in solidarity with the officers “on the road to recovery.”

“These officers put themselves in harm’s way each and every day inside these dangerous prison walls,” he added. “We as a union, as a community, and as a state must work to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all our correction officers now and in the future, and today is a step in the right direction toward achieving that goal.”

Martin called for more lockdowns and comprehensive searches to be done on a regular basis inside state prisons.

The video from September’s assault shows a correction officer getting attacked from behind by an inmate who was seen waiting by a cell.

The inmate then takes several swings at the officer with an apparent “shiv” before they tumble to the ground. Meanwhile, another inmate joins in on the assault.

Then a second correction officer runs it to help his colleague. The two inmates and two officers are seen wrestling on the ground before a third officer runs in. Then a third inmate joins the fracas.

Several officers then respond to contain the inmate assault.

Following the attack, DOC sent in “specialized tactical units” to find weapons inside the prison. The officer union has been continuing to call for more searches of cells to confiscate shivs and drugs.

Worcester DA Joseph Early, Jr. was seen speaking with correction officers outside the courtroom before the arraignment.

Crespo agreed to be held on dangerousness, and he’s due back in court on March 25.

Tapia was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Feb. 3.

Rivera-Negron was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Feb. 5.

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