Henry Nowak’s death triggers right-wing protests in UK; Vickrum Digwa’s family apologises for bringing Sikhs to 'disrepute'
A protest of several hundred people, including far-right activist Tommy Robinson, gathered after the release of police bodycam footage of Henry Nowak's death
Following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa to life imprisonment for the stabbing death of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, a protest involving hundreds, potentially up to two thousand, individuals erupted in Southampton, UK, after the release of police bodycam footage depicting Nowak's final moments; far-right figures Tommy Robinson and Laurence Fox reportedly addressed the crowd, which chanted anti-police slogans and engaged in violence, pelting officers with projectiles, while Reform UK's Nigel Farage ignited controversy with remarks about "pure cold rage" and a perceived "two-tier culture," drawing criticism from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Prime Minister Kier Starmer, both of whom condemned the violence and hijacking of the tragedy, with Starmer also expressing personal distress over the footage and calling for an examination of potential racial bias in the police response, as one officer involved has resigned and three others are witnesses, and Digwa's family has issued an apology for the pain caused and for bringing the Sikh community into disrepute.
Following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa to life imprisonment for the stabbing death of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, a protest involving hundreds, potentially up to two thousand, individuals erupted in Southampton, UK, after the release of police bodycam footage depicting Nowak's final moments; far-right figures Tommy Robinson and Laurence Fox reportedly addressed the crowd, which chanted anti-police slogans and engaged in violence, pelting officers with projectiles, while Reform UK's Nigel Farage ignited controversy with remarks about "pure cold rage" and a perceived "two-tier culture," drawing criticism from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Prime Minister Kier Starmer, both of whom condemned the violence and hijacking of the tragedy, with Starmer also expressing personal distress over the footage and calling for an examination of potential racial bias in the police response, as one officer involved has resigned and three others are witnesses, and Digwa's family has issued an apology for the pain caused and for bringing the Sikh community into disrepute.
Following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa to life imprisonment for the stabbing death of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, a protest involving hundreds, potentially up to two thousand, individuals erupted in Southampton, UK, after the release of police bodycam footage depicting Nowak's final moments; far-right figures Tommy Robinson and Laurence Fox reportedly addressed the crowd, which chanted anti-police slogans and engaged in violence, pelting officers with projectiles, while Reform UK's Nigel Farage ignited controversy with remarks about "pure cold rage" and a perceived "two-tier culture," drawing criticism from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Prime Minister Kier Starmer, both of whom condemned the violence and hijacking of the tragedy, with Starmer also expressing personal distress over the footage and calling for an examination of potential racial bias in the police response, as one officer involved has resigned and three others are witnesses, and Digwa's family has issued an apology for the pain caused and for bringing the Sikh community into disrepute.
A crowd of several hundred protesters gathered in Southampton, UK, on Tuesday hours after the release of police bodycam footage showing the death of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak, who was stabbed.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 21 years for the horrific murder on Monday. He had stabbed the teen about 4 times with an 8-inch blade, which he claimed he carried as part of his Sikh faith.
The crowd of around 2000 men, women and children gathered in front of the Southampton Central Police station. Far-right activists Tommy Robinson and Laurence Fox were speakers and reportedly promoted the protest.
The crowds also shouted chants like “I can't breathe, “No justice no peace”, and “f*** the police.”
Police officers were pelted with stones, and the crowd threw chairs, cans, bricks and bottles at the officers who were in riot gear, Sky News reported.
Earlier in the day, the Far Right party Reform UK’s Nigel Farage said that the people should respond to the police’s action at the crime scene with “pure cold rage”. He also claimed that there was a two-tier culture in the UK where "the rights and privileges of white people matter less than those of ethnic minorities".
Meanwhile, the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the clashes were “completely unacceptable”
In a statement, she said that, "The Nowak family made a powerful call… to not let Henry's death be used to create further division, hatred or tension.
"There can be no justification for hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder."
She also said that those responsible can expect to face "the full force of the law", she added, and thanked police officers for showing "great bravery and calm in the face of disgraceful violence directed at them".
Prime Minister Kier Starmer also criticised Farage, saying that the Nowak’s family did not want to escalate the situation, saying that the Reform leader was "completely wrong to use this to try and create division".
Starmer also said that he himself felt sick when he watched the footage of police handcuffing Mr Nowak as he lay dying and that there were "serious questions" to answer about the case.
He said that there needs to be an examination into how "accusations of racism" informed the police's decision-making.
One of the officers involved in the case has resigned, while three others are serving. All of them are being treated as witnesses.
A statement issued by Vikrum Digwa’s family apologised for the “pain and suffering the Nowak family has had to endure", and for bringing the Sikh community into "disrepute".