Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, has launched a review to examine whether authorities missed opportunities to prevent the murder of student Henry Nowak. The move responds to claims that the alleged attacker, Vickrum Digwa, had displayed a pattern of threatening behaviour and an obsession with weapons prior to the killing.
The review will consider whether warning signs were recognised and acted on by relevant agencies and institutions. Officials have not yet published detailed terms of reference or a timetable for the inquiry, which is intended to establish whether any systemic failures contributed to the tragedy.
The decision to open the review follows media reports and public concern about the suspect's past conduct. Those reports allege multiple incidents in which Digwa behaved in ways that others described as threatening and that he showed a persistent focus on weapons, prompting questions about whether intervention could have been made.
Mahmood's office said the review is intended to identify lessons that could reduce the risk of similar incidents in future. It is likely to examine how information about concerning behaviour is shared between bodies such as police, universities, health services and community organisations, and whether existing arrangements are sufficient to protect the public.
Further details about who will carry out the review and when its findings will be published have not been announced. The inquiry is expected to attract close attention from victims' groups, legal experts and lawmakers as it seeks to clarify whether prevention opportunities were missed and what changes might be required.