The far right Politicians across Europe seek to exploit killing

Polish far-right politicians have claimed that the murder of Henry Nowak symbolises ‘‘Britain’s descent into the depths of the earth’’ as populists from France, Spain and Japan focused on harrowing clips of his dying moments.

- Rajeev Syal, Kim Willsher

Despite pleas from Nowak’s family for people not to exploit the killing for political gain and to focus on cutting knife crime, the comments have focused on race and immigration.

Police footage showing Nowak’s final few minutes of life have been shared around the world. The 18-year-old was arrested and handcuffed as he lay dying from stab wounds, while his murderer, Vickrum Digwa, who had stabbed him five times, lied to police that he had been racially abused.

Marta Czech, a member of the far-right Confederation of the Polish Crown, was questioned about Nowak’s murderer at an activists’ meeting last week in London. She called for a ‘‘defence of Poles in our country and abroad’’.

Nowak’s father is understood to be of Polish descent.