British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned the violent protests that erupted over the death of a student who was handcuffed by police after he had been stabbed.

Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced on Monday to a minimum of 21 years in prison for the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, who was killed in an attack in Southampton in December 2025.

Newly released police footage of the incident shows officers continuing to put Nowak in handcuffs despite his pleas that he was struggling to breathe and was injured. Digwa, who is Sikh, had told police he was a victim of a racist attack, an allegation that was later proved false.

The incident has sparked violent protests in Southampton, resulting in 11 police officers sustaining injuries and damage to property and vehicles.

Starmer on Wednesday acknowledged there are “serious questions to answer, including how accusations of racism informed police thinking,” but emphasized there is “no justification for more violence and disorder.”

Addressing lawmakers in the…