Starmer urges calm as far right seeks to exploit Henry Nowak murder Politicians are urging calm amidst concerns that the populist right is exploiting the murder of Henry Nowak by Vickrum Digwa to incite racial resentment against minority ethnic Britons. Keir Starmer and community leaders have condemned Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson for using the case to promote division and attack the Sikh community, while Nowak’s family has pleaded for his death not to be used to create hatred. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the police’s treatment of Nowak, with preliminary findings indicating no disciplinary or criminal offense by the officers involved.

• Politicians and community leaders are calling for calm amid fears the populist right is using the murder of Henry Nowak to incite racist resentment.
• Keir Starmer condemned Nigel Farage for exploiting the case, emphasizing that Nowak’s family asked for the tragedy not to be used to target communities.
• Vickrum Digwa was jailed for life for fatally stabbing 18-year-old student Henry Nowak with a Sikh dagger.
• US hard-right commentators, including Elon Musk, have highlighted police body-camera footage showing Nowak being handcuffed despite stating he had been stabbed, arguing it shows ‘two-tier’ policing.
• Nigel Farage repeated claims of excessive focus on racial equality, warning of ‘destruction of society’ and promoting ‘white lives matter’.
• Far-right activist Tommy Robinson (Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) rallied a crowd outside Southampton police station, accusing Hampshire police of institutional racism and calling for Digwa’s family to be forced out of Southampton.
• Sikh groups condemned the actions of the individual offender, stating the wider Sikh community has faced considerable abuse and hate since the murder.
• Academics have clarified that the murder weapon, a 21cm knife, should not be confused with a kirpan, a small, symbolic Sikh knife.
• The IOPC has found no indication of disciplinary or criminal offense by the officers involved after six months of inquiries.
• Nowak’s father condemned the police’s treatment of his son but urged that his death not be used to create further division or hatred.
• The incident has prompted police chiefs to review parts of their anti-racism commitments due to concerns about the wording.