Police officers were pelted with missiles during violent clashes at a protest near the Southampton, UK, home of convicted murderer Vickrum Digwa, as anger continued to grow over the handling of the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak.
A crowd of several hundred people gathered initially outside Southampton Central Police Station before marching to the St Denys area, close to Digwa’s family home, where the confrontation with police escalated.
Officers in riot gear were forced to retreat after protesters threw chairs, cans and flares during the unrest.
Demonstrators had earlier assembled outside the police station before moving across the city, chanting Nowak’s name and the phrase “I can’t breathe”, the reported final words of the teenager as he lay dying.
The unrest comes days after Digwa was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Nowak, who was stabbed in December 2025 while walking back to his student accommodation.
The case has triggered widespread criticism of police conduct after body-worn camera footage showed Nowak handcuffed while seriously injured, repeatedly saying he had been stabbed.
Officers later removed the handcuffs and began CPR once the severity of his injuries became clear.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said there were “serious questions” about how the initial response was handled, particularly regarding how the attacker’s false claims of a racist assault influenced police decision-making.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an investigation into Hampshire Police’s handling of the incident, while the Attorney General’s Office is considering whether to review Digwa’s 21-year minimum term.
Authorities say the case has intensified debate in the UK over policing standards, risk assessment, and the impact of rapidly unfolding crisis situations.
Officials have also urged restraint, warning that the case should not be used to inflame community tensions as investigations continue.
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