Violence erupted as demonstrators took to the streets over the arrest of Henry Nowak as he lay dying
Officers came under attack as missiles and wheelie bins were pelted at them during a protest that erupted in connection with the Henry Nowak murder.
Violence erupted on Tuesday night (June 2) as riot police remained stationed near to the Southampton home of Henry Nowak’s killer Vickrum Digwa, who has now been convicted of murder.
The 23-year-old was jailed for life on Monday after being convicted of murdering 18-year-old Nowak as he walked back to his student accommodation last December. He was stabbed five times.
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However Digwa told police attending the scene that he had been the victim of a racist attack, with police going on to arrest Nowak as he lay dying. Body cam footage has since shown Henry repeatedly telling officers he had been stabbed as he lay dying in handcuffs.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an investigation into the force’s response.
The circumstances around the death which saw Mr Nowak handcuffed have seen politicians clash, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage calling for the response to be ‘pure, cold rage’. Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer has said he ‘felt sick’ watching the footage and said there are ‘serious questions’ to answer about the case.
A large crowd first gathered and took part in a demonstration outside Southampton Central Police Station on Tuesday, before then moving close to the family home of Digwa in St Denys. Tensions then grew as the riot police response grew.
Chairs, cans and flares were thrown at officers in riot gear, forcing them to retreat. Videos on social media, including on X, showed violence rapidly developing, with bricks and flaming wheelie bins also hurled towards the line of officers.
Members of the protest were seen running through the streets, some bleeding, as the chaos continued. A police helicopter was filmed hovering overhead as officers were pelted with stones on the residential street.
Demonstrators were heard chanting “Henry, Henry” as the line of police clutching riot screens were pelted with the bricks, chairs and other items. Fires were also started, with some lit items placed in large waste bins that were pushed into the line of officers.
Hampshire Police said in a post on social media: “We know there has been significant commentary following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa yesterday afternoon, and we recognise the desire for answers about the police response that night.
“However, what we cannot accept is the significant spread of misinformation online by those intent of causing further fear and division by making threats to officers and sharing names that are simply not true.
“A police officer unrelated to this case has been misidentified online and subject to death threats. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is continuing its independent investigation into our response on the night in question, following our self-referral the next day. While that progresses, we ask that people avoid harmful speculation online.”
Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, condemned tonight’s disorder in Southampton.
She said: “The scenes this evening in Portswood are completely unacceptable. The Nowak family made a powerful call to us all yesterday to not let Henry’s death be used to create further division, hatred or tension. There can be no justification for hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder. Those responsible can expect to face the full force of the law. I thank the police who have tonight shown great bravery and calm in the face of disgraceful violence directed at them.”
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