State Department Comments on U.K. Case Involving Death of Henry Nowak

The State Department posted a statement on social media Thursday expressing condolences to the family of Henry Nowak and commenting on policing practices in the United Kingdom. The post followed the Monday sentencing of Vickrum Digwa, 23, to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years for the December death of 18-year-old Henry Nowak.

Body camera footage released earlier this week showed Nowak handcuffed while saying he had been stabbed and could not breathe.

Police called an ambulance after Nowak became unresponsive. Digwa, who is Sikh, had reported being the victim of a racist attack. The State Department wrote that ideological conditioning and two-tiered policing are symptoms of civilizational decline that must be rejected across the West.

Responses from U.K. Officials U.K.

Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy said his heart goes out to the Nowak family and urged calm. He stated he does not recognize a two-tier criminal justice system and called the behavior of Reform Party leader Nigel Farage shameful.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the bodycam footage is harrowing and that serious questions need to be addressed about how accusations of racism informed decision making. Mark Nowak, the victim's father, said the case is not about racism or religion and that he wants his son's death to lead to safer streets rather than further division.