Protesters had gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station in response to the killing of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak. There has been an escalation with police encountering projectiles thrown at them in the vicinity of the attack site.
Convicted this week of Mr. Nowak’s murder in Southampton in December 2025, Vickrum Digwa used a “Sikh dagger” in the fatal assault. Initially claiming to be a victim of a racist assault, Digwa’s deceit was captured on body-worn camera footage from the incident where Mr. Nowak, who had voluntarily been taken into custody, can be heard pleading about his stabbing while an officer dismisses his claims.
Following the initial protest at the police station, demonstrators moved towards St Denys, the location of the tragedy, where they clashed with law enforcement. Objects like chairs, cans, and flares were hurled at officers in riot gear during the disturbances organized by extremist factions.
The death of Mr. Nowak has drawn comparisons to the racially motivated killing of 18-year-old student Stephen Lawrence in 1993, with Neville Lawrence, Stephen’s father, remarking on the chilling repetition of history.
Tensions persist in Southampton as clashes between protesters and police continue into the night. The situation remains volatile with reports of further altercations between law enforcement and demonstrators in the St Denys area.
