Protesters earlier gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station following the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak. Missiles have now been thrown at police near to where he died.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was this week convicted of murdering Mr Nowak with a “Sikh dagger” in Southampton in December 2025. Digwa lied to police at the scene and claimed he had been the victim of a racist attack.
In body-worn camera footage from the incident, Mr Nowak – who was initially arrested himself – can be heard repeatedly saying: “I’ve been stabbed,” to which an officer replies: “Don’t think you have, mate.” Sir Keir Starmer said the footage made him feel sick.
Following the protest outside Southampton Central Police station, a group walked across town to the area of St Denys close to where the murder took place. Chairs, cans and flares were thrown at police in riot gear. The protest had been organised by far-right groups.
New UpdatesView PostView PostView PostToday21:16 BST
A police helicopter hovered overhead in Southampton as officers were pelted with stones on a residential street in the St Denys area, near where Mr Nowak was murdered.
Police then charged with perspex shields in an attempt to push the crowd back.
Demonstrators chanted “Henry, Henry” as the line of police were pelted with bricks and forced to retreated again.
Ethan BlackshawToday21:12 BST
Protesters were earlier heard chanting “I can’t breathe” as they gathered outside Southampton police station, in reference to the police bodycam footage of his arrest.
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Mr Nowak’s father Mark Nowak, speaking after Digwa was sentenced on Monday, said: “We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension.”
Henry Nowak
Today21:08 BST
Reform UK and Restore Britain are politicising pain and using the Sikh community as a “scapegoat” following Mr Nowak, a Labour MP said.
Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, the Labour MP for Slough, earlier accused them of trying to “politicise people’s pain”, insisting the kirpan was not used in the attack.
Addressing the Commons on Tuesday, Mr Dhesi said he was “deeply saddened by the murder of Henry Nowak”.
He continued: “What’s very galling is that the likes of Reform, Restore, and the far-right decided to politicise people’s pain, attacking the Sikh community for wearing the kirpan and wanting it banned, even though the kirpan was not used in this violent attack.
“And they’ve decided to scapegoat and throw under the bus an entire community based on the actions of one violent murderer.”
Ethan BlackshawToday21:05 BST
Some protesters were earlier pictured waving England and Union flags near Southampton police station.
People protest near Southampton police station(Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)
Sir Keir Starmer said Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was “wrong” to say the response to Henry Nowak’s murder should be “pure, cold rage”.
Responding to Mr Farage’s claim, the Prime Minister told broadcasters: “I think Nigel Farage’s reaction is the wrong reaction, and I start my answer to your question through the eyes of the family.
“They have said they do not want this whipped up. They have been through the most extraordinary, awful experience. They don’t want this whipped up.
“And Nigel Farage is completely wrong to use this to try and create division.
“He would be wrong in any circumstances, but when Henry’s family are saying please don’t do that, it is our son, then really politicians as human beings should start where they start. And that is where I start.”
Ethan Blackshaw
Today20:58 BST
Images show police vans have come under attack in Southampton.
It followed an earlier protest that purported to be over the death of murdered student Henry Nowak.
Police vans have been attacked(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Images show people throwing bins at police in Southampton near to where Mr Nowak died.
The earlier protest had been organised by far-right groups.
People threw bins at police(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Away from the chaos that erupted, people have been pictured paying tribute at the scene where Mr Nowak was murdered.
People paying tribute where Henry Nowak died(Image: Getty Images)
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In body-worn camera footage from Mr Nowak’s arrest, he can be heard repeatedly saying: “I’ve been stabbed,” to which an officer replies: “Don’t think you have, mate.”
Sir Keir Starmer said he “felt sick” watching footage of Mr Nowak as he lay dying, and that there are “serious questions” to answer about the case.
Ethan BlackshawToday20:44 BST
Police officers have been pelted with missiles close to where Henry Nowak was stabbed to death.
Following the protest outside Southampton Central Police station, a large group walked across town to the area of St Denys, close to where the murder took place.
Chairs, cans and flares were thrown at police in riot gear, eventually forcing officers and three police vans back from the line they had been holding.