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Shabana Mahmood warns of ‘dangerous undercurrent’ after murder of Henry Nowak
TL;DR
Shabana Mahmood warns of a 'dangerous undercurrent' following the murder of Henry Nowak, who was stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, who falsely accused him of racism. Digwa received a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years for the crime.
Key points
- Shabana Mahmood warns of a dangerous undercurrent
- Henry Nowak was murdered by Vickrum Digwa
- Digwa falsely accused Nowak of racism
- Digwa sentenced to life in prison for the murder
- Police footage shows Nowak's distress during the incident
Mentioned in this story
Shabana MahmoodHenry NowakVickrum DigwaNigel Farage
The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has warned of a “dangerous undercurrent” in the wake of the murder of Henry Nowak, who was falsely accused of racism by a Sikh man who had fatally stabbed him with a ceremonial dagger.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced on Monday to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years for the December 2025 murder of 18-year-old Nowak.
Digwa falsely claimed he had been racially abused and attacked by Nowak and told police that the teenager knocked his turban off and caused an eye injury.
Hampshire police released footage from body-worn cameras showing Nowak being handcuffed despite repeatedly telling police officers that he had been stabbed. At one point an officer tells him: “I don’t think you have, mate.”
The Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, has called for “pure cold rage” over the disturbing case, which has sparked widespread criticism including on social media.
“An accusation of a racial slur was treated more seriously than an act of murder,” Farage said.
Speaking in the Commons, Mahmood said one officer had already been misidentified and had had to move out of his home to protect himself and his family after receiving death threats.
She told MPs: “The police in this country have a sacred duty: to police without fear or favour. Everyone in this country is equal before the law. It is the promise upon which our whole justice system rests, and the equality of every citizen is the foundation on which the openness, tolerance and generosity of this country rests.”
She continued: “Threats against police officers are utterly unacceptable. There can be no justification for intimidation, abuse or attempts to take the law into one’s own hands. A police officer unrelated to this case has been misidentified online and subjected to death threats. He has been forced to relocate to protect himself and his family.
“Misinformation and inflammatory commentary is making a dreadful situation even worse. We must all, together, condemn it.”
Hampshire Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers in the constabulary, echoed the sentiment in a statement. “The Police Federation condemns in the strongest possible terms the calls for mob or vigilante justice against officers we have seen in recent days,” it said.
“That has included police officers being wrongly identified as being involved in the incident and personal details such as home address being widely published. We call on politicians of all parties and media commentators to be more responsible in their comments – and allow due process for the officers involved to ensue.”
Q&A
What was the motive behind Henry Nowak's murder?
Henry Nowak was murdered by Vickrum Digwa, who falsely claimed that Nowak had racially abused him.
What sentence did Vickrum Digwa receive for the murder?
Vickrum Digwa was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years.
What did Shabana Mahmood say about the implications of this case?
Shabana Mahmood warned of a 'dangerous undercurrent' in society following the murder of Henry Nowak.
How did the police respond to Henry Nowak during the incident?
Police footage showed Henry Nowak being handcuffed while he repeatedly stated that he had been stabbed, with an officer expressing skepticism about his injury.
