Mahmood condemns ‘unacceptable’ violence against officers at Henry Nowak protest

WorldPolitics
3 Jun 2026 • 8:10 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Mahmood condemns ‘unacceptable’ violence against officers at Henry Nowak protest

  • Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned "disgraceful" violence after riot police were pelted with bottles and bricks during a protest in Southampton following the sentencing of Henry Nowak's killer.
  • Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering 18-year-old Henry Nowak, who was handcuffed while dying after Digwa claimed he had racially abused him.
  • Footage showed an officer telling Nowak, "Don't think you have, mate," when he said he had been stabbed, prompting concerns about police conduct.
  • Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed feeling "sick" watching the bodycam footage and called for a full investigation into how accusations of racism influenced police decision-making.
  • Nigel Farage likened Nowak's treatment to George Floyd's killing, stating it showed a "two-tier culture," a comment criticised by Ms Mahmood and Kemi Badenoch for being inflammatory and "whipping people up."

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