UK Home Secretary Condemns Race-Driven Riots After Student's Murder

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has condemned violent, racist protests linked to the case of an 18-year-old student handcuffed by police as he lay dying, after the killer posed as a victim of a racist attack, calling the unrest “completely unacceptable.”

The riots on Tuesday night were fueled by claims that the UK operates a “two-tier justice” system biased against white people. Henry Nowak, 18, was stabbed to death in December by Vickrum Digwa, 23, a British Sikh. This week, the court ruled that Digwa stabbed Nowak five times and then pretended to be the victim of a racist assault. Police initially treated Nowak as a suspect, handcuffing him before realizing his injuries and attempting CPR.

Digwa was sentenced to life in prison on Monday. The incident has dominated UK headlines as violent anti-police protests erupted in Southampton, the city where Nowak was killed. Hundreds of people in the southern coastal city hurled chairs, cans, stones and flares at police. Two people were arrested, and 11 officers and one police dog were injured.

Nowak's death has reignited debates about law enforcement and knife crime, while fueling claims from right-wing activists and politicians about bias in the UK justice system against white people. Secretary Mahmood accused protesters of exploiting a tragedy to incite violence against police.

Speaking on X, she said: “I thank the police for their courage and calm in the face of shameful violence directed at them,” and urged people to listen to the “powerful plea” from Nowak's family. Outside court on Monday, Nowak's father, Mark, criticized the “inhumane and degrading” treatment his son received from police, but added: “We do not want our son's death to be used to create further division, hatred, or tension. We want his story to help make streets safer for everyone.”

After the sentencing, police released body camera footage showing that officers did not take Nowak's statements about being stabbed seriously and ignored his repeated claims that he could not breathe. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “disgusted” by the video and demanded answers about “how racist allegations affected decisions in this case.”

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is reviewing the actions of officers from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. The National Police Chiefs' Council has also announced a review of anti-racism guidance following the incident. Nigel Farage, leader of the anti-immigration Reform UK party, described the case as an example of “two-tier policing.” Farage called for people to respond with “pure cold rage” and stated, “White lives matter just as much as black lives.”

X owner Elon Musk and British far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, have expressed outrage and urged people to protest under the banner “Justice for Henry Nowak.” Some UK politicians have called for a ban on Sikhs carrying the ceremonial knife known as the kirpan. The judge noted that Digwa carried a small kirpan but also possessed an 8-inch (21cm) Sikh dagger, which was used as the weapon to kill Nowak.

Hampshire Police have apologized and confirmed that one officer involved in the arrest has resigned, while three others are being treated as witnesses in the investigation.