- Henry Nowak was murdered by Vickrum Digwa.
- Protesters gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station in the U.K. on June 2.
- Polish far-right politicians claimed that the murder of Henry Nowak symbolizes Britain's descent into the depths of the earth as populists focused on clips of his dying moments.
- Despite pleas from Nowak's family for people not to exploit the killing for political gain, their comments have centered on race and immigration.
- Ewa Zajazkowska-Hernik, a Polish MEP in Viktor Orbán's grouping, described Digwa as can Indian.
- Marta Czech, from the far-right Confederation of the Polish Crown, called for a defence of Poles in our country and abroad during an activists’ meeting.
- Santiago Abascal, leader of the Spanish far-right party Vox, remarked that the British people are burning with rage over Nowak's death.
- Éric Zemmour, a far-right French politician, claimed that Nowak's immigrant perpetrator is protected by the religion of anti-racism.
The murder of Henry Nowak, a Polish immigrant, by Vickrum Digwa has sparked widespread protests in the UK. The incident has not only led to public outcry but also garnered attention from various far-right politicians who have utilized the tragedy to advance their political agendas.13
Protesters gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station, expressing their outrage following the death of Nowak. Video footage displaying police responses to the murder has played a significant role in fueling this anger.2
Many politicians have made inflammatory claims regarding the incident. Polish far-right politicians have stated that Nowak's murder symbolizes, “Britain's descent into the depths of the earth,” while leaders from other European far-right parties have amplified these sentiments. For instance, Santiago Abascal, of the Spanish party Vox, mentioned that “the British people are burning with rage” over the murder. Furthermore, Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, suggested a reaction of “pure, cold rage” from the public towards police inaction.7
Amid these political maneuvers, Nowak’s family has urged against using the tragedy for political gain, emphasizing the need to concentrate on tackling issues like knife crime.
Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik, a Polish MEP, controversially described Digwa as “an Indian,” further complicating discussions around race in the aftermath of this tragedy.
This situation highlights the intersection of crime, immigration, and politics in modern Britain, with advocates on all sides using Nowak's murder to push differing narratives.
“The murder of Henry Nowak has led to protests and significant outrage across the U.K. Far-right politicians are using the incident to push their agenda on race and immigration.”
WSJ
The Guardian