Protests turned violent outside a police station in Southampton on Tuesday night after the release of bodycam footage tied to a fatal stabbing case, with officers facing projectiles as crowds moved through the city. The event escalated quickly, as the event into a march from Southampton central Police station to Portswood police station, close to where Henry Nowak was killed.
Several videos show confrontations between protesters and riot officers.
In footage, released by Hampshire police who oversee Southamtpon, shows 18-year-old Henry Nowak repeatedly saying "I can't breathe" while lying seriously wounded after a December attack following a night out with teammates. At points in the recording, he is also seen being restrained by officers as confusion unfolded at the scene.
Nowak had been stabbed with a ceremonial knife during an incident that led to the conviction of 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa. A judge on Monday sentenced him to at least 21 years in prison for murder.
When officers first arrived, Digwa reportedly told them Nowak had used racial slurs and claimed he was the victim. That account shaped the initial response at the scene.
The footage shown during trial includes officers questioning the injured student, with one asking, "You've been stabbed, whereabouts?" before adding: "Don't think you have, mate." Moments later, Nowak lost consciousness and collapsed. He was pronounced dead shortly after.
Nowak’s father Mark called the handling of his son’s case "shocking" and said it was "inhumane and degrading... his murderer, however, was afforded decency. He was believed."
Police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the footage as "harrowing" and said the review was "absolutely right". Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urged restraint, warning against allowing the case to "turn communities against one another".
Political reactions widened, with Nigel Farage stating: "We're living in a two-tier culture... where the rights and privileges of white people matter less than those of ethnic minorities." Kemi Badenoch accused Farage of "deepening divisions" while also raising concerns about "two-tier policing".
By evening, more than a thousand people gathered chanting "two tier scum" and "shame on you!" before moving toward the crime scene. Populist activist Tommy Robinson told supporters that "if Henry (Nowak) wasn't white he wouldn't have been handcuffed" and "as white people we are treated as second-rate citizens by our own police force."
Video shows protesters shaming police officers, with signs that read "Henry's blood is on your hands" and other slogans.
In one video, protesters can be seen confronting the police in Southampton, demanding they “bend the knee and pay their respects to Henry” Nowak. “What are you gonna do? Put me in cuffs and kill me?” a man can be seen saying to police in a video posted to X.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk also said he would help fund a private prosecution over police handling of the case.
Several videos show confrontations between protesters and riot officers.
In footage, released by Hampshire police who oversee Southamtpon, shows 18-year-old Henry Nowak repeatedly saying "I can't breathe" while lying seriously wounded after a December attack following a night out with teammates. At points in the recording, he is also seen being restrained by officers as confusion unfolded at the scene.
Nowak had been stabbed with a ceremonial knife during an incident that led to the conviction of 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa. A judge on Monday sentenced him to at least 21 years in prison for murder.
When officers first arrived, Digwa reportedly told them Nowak had used racial slurs and claimed he was the victim. That account shaped the initial response at the scene.
The footage shown during trial includes officers questioning the injured student, with one asking, "You've been stabbed, whereabouts?" before adding: "Don't think you have, mate." Moments later, Nowak lost consciousness and collapsed. He was pronounced dead shortly after.
Nowak’s father Mark called the handling of his son’s case "shocking" and said it was "inhumane and degrading... his murderer, however, was afforded decency. He was believed."
Police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the footage as "harrowing" and said the review was "absolutely right". Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urged restraint, warning against allowing the case to "turn communities against one another".
Political reactions widened, with Nigel Farage stating: "We're living in a two-tier culture... where the rights and privileges of white people matter less than those of ethnic minorities." Kemi Badenoch accused Farage of "deepening divisions" while also raising concerns about "two-tier policing".
By evening, more than a thousand people gathered chanting "two tier scum" and "shame on you!" before moving toward the crime scene. Populist activist Tommy Robinson told supporters that "if Henry (Nowak) wasn't white he wouldn't have been handcuffed" and "as white people we are treated as second-rate citizens by our own police force."
Video shows protesters shaming police officers, with signs that read "Henry's blood is on your hands" and other slogans.
In one video, protesters can be seen confronting the police in Southampton, demanding they “bend the knee and pay their respects to Henry” Nowak. “What are you gonna do? Put me in cuffs and kill me?” a man can be seen saying to police in a video posted to X.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk also said he would help fund a private prosecution over police handling of the case.
