Riot police have arrived at the protest scene in Southampton following fury over bodycam footage that revealed stabbed student Henry Nowak’s pleas for assistance were dismissed.
Officers have faced a barrage of projectiles near the location where Nowak was fatally stabbed, as masked individuals also hurled bikes at shield-carrying police.
After the demonstration outside Southampton Central Police station, a substantial crowd marched across the city to St Denys, adjacent to the murder site. While the vast majority of the hundreds present demonstrated peacefully, certain masked individuals began creating disorder with officers.
Police in riot equipment were pelted with chairs, cans and flares, ultimately compelling officers and three police vans to retreat from their established position. Visible damage to the surrounding vicinity included a torn-down fence. Officers were also observed forcing the crowd back with riot shields while chants of “I can’t breathe” echoed.
View 4 ImagesObjects have been thrown at police officers following a protest(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The murderer of finance student Nowak, 23 year old Vickrum Digwa, deceived attending officers at the Southampton stabbing scene on December 3 in 2025, claiming he had been targeted in a racist assault, reports the Daily Star.
Body-worn camera recordings from the incident captured Nowak repeatedly stating: “I’ve been stabbed,” to which an officer responds: “Don’t think you have, mate.” This footage provoked widespread anger, with the Prime Minister declaring he “felt sick” upon viewing it. A police helicopter was also spotted circling overhead following a largely peaceful demonstration outside the station, which far-right activist Tommy Robinson had joined.
View 4 ImagesA protest has turned to ugly scenes just hours after a minute silence was held for Henry Nowak(Image: Toby Shepheard / Story Picture Agency)
Speaking to the gathered crowd, Robinson declared: “I heard someone say this wasn’t about race, this is about race. Because he (Mr Nowak) was white he was handcuffed.
“Even after they found out he (Digwa) had stabbed him five times, they still didn’t handcuff him. A white boy who done nothing was handcuffed, a murderer in possession of a knife who stabbed someone five times isn’t.”
The scenes unfolded after Nowak’s father Mark stated: “We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension.”
View 4 ImagesBeer was also thrown at police vans and officers(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed that investigators are scrutinising a substantial volume of body-worn camera footage alongside evidence presented throughout Digwa’s trial.
Sir Keir commented: “It is absolutely right that the IOPC are looking at this. There are clearly serious questions that need to be addressed, not least how accusations of racism informed the decision-making in this case.”
Digwa received a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years for fatally stabbing Nowak with a ceremonial knife bearing a 21cm blade, which prosecutors identified as a kirpan — a blade carried as part of his Sikh faith.