Protesters clashed with police in Southampton tonight as more than 1,000 took to the streets over the arrest of murdered teenager Henry Nowak.
Demonstrators arrived outside Southampton police station just before 6pm this evening, holding banners which read ‘Save Our Kids’ and chanting ‘I can’t breathe’ – while others lobbed wheelie bins and beer cans at riot squad officers.
It came one day after police bodycam footage emerged of innocent Mr Nowak, 18, being arrested by police as he begged them to call an ambulance, having just been stabbed six times by ‘knife-obsessed’ Sikh stranger, Vickrum Digwa.
Digwa, 23, did not know the teenager before attacking him, but lied to the first officers on the scene, claiming Mr Nowak shouted racist abuse, punched him and knocked off his turban.
The injured student was then arrested as he lay dying on the ground, drowning in his own blood.
He repeatedly pleaded with police to help him, shouting ‘I can’t breathe’ more than seven times before they ordered him to place his hands in the cuffs.
The teen also told them, ‘I’ve been stabbed’, to which one male officer replied, ‘I don’t think you have mate’. He died shortly afterwards.
Footage of the arrest, released last night, has sparked furious backlash across the country, with more than 1,000 protesters gathered in Southampton this evening, many violently clashing with police.
Police officers appear to be attacked by demonstrators near Portswood Police Station, following a protest in Southampton tonight
Protesters throw bins at police during the protest, which sparked violent clashes between demonstrators and officers
One incident saw crowds hurl a flair at officers before others stormed at them while shouting: ‘Justice for Henry’
Police bodycam footage shows innocent victim Henry Nowak, 18, being forced into handcuffs by officers after he was stabbed repeatedly by a knife-obsessed Sikh man
Murderer Vickrum Digwa (pictured) is seen lying to police as he tells them teenager Henry Nowak ripped off his turban in a racist attack
Mr Nowak (pictured) was a finance student at the University of Southampton and was described as ‘kind and talented’ by his family
Hundreds of protesters descended upon Southampton police station over the footage
Some carried banners reading ‘Save our kids’ while others paraded Union Jacks with the words ‘Unite the Kingdom’
It comes after a different officer received death threats and was ‘forced to relocate’ after being wrongly identified online as being involved in the case, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said today.
The officer had to relocate for the safety and security of his family, Ms Mahmood told the House of Commons this afternoon.
Digwa was yesterday jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years for stabbing Mr Nowak six times with a religious blade he was carrying.
Demonstrators arrived in Southampton with pictures and banners tonight, with clips shared online showing crowds carrying Union Jacks descending upon the station just before 6pm today.
Some held placards reading, ‘Save our kids’, while others paraded pictures of Mr Nowak with the caption: ‘I can’t breathe.’
A large police presence was put in place outside the station, with officers forming a blockade.
In a video posted to social media, far-right activist Tommy Robinson described the bodycam footage as ‘horrific’ while calling on supporters to attend the protest.
Robinson, right-wing commentator Laurence Fox, and UKIP leader Nick Tenconi were among those who stood at the steps of the station as speeches were delivered to the crowd.
The Lord’s prayer was said twice, while Robinson said ‘white people are treated like second rate citizens’ in his speech.
In one chant, hundreds of people shouted ‘I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe’ in reference to what Mr Nowak told police as he lay dying on the ground.
Addressing the crowd, UKIP leader Tenconi said: ‘Hampshire police must sack and arrest the arresting officers.
‘They must publicly take the knee for Henry Nowak.’
Robinson received loud applause as he took the microphone to speak. ‘As white people we are treated like second rate citizens by our own government,’ he said.
People protest near Southampton police station this evening after Digwa’s sentencing yesterday
An image issued by the Crown Prosecution Service shows the eight-inch ceremonial dagger used by Digwa
Footage appeared to show crowds trying to storm the station as officers formed a blockade outside
Digwa’s father Moga Singh (left) attempted to hide his face as he appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court today alongside his son Gurpreet Digwa (right)
‘White privilege? Does Henry look like he has white privilege when he was on the floor?’
Sikh man Kulwinder Singh, a 47-year-old taxi driver from Southampton, welcomed the protest and those who were marching.
He said: ‘I’m part of the Sikh faith so I welcome them. They are my brothers and sisters. I’m not worried at all, they’re welcome at the Gurdwara [Sikh temple].
‘It’s nothing to do with the faith. We should keep people together.’ Mr Singh shook hands with protesters as they marched.
Jamie Smith, from Southampton, said: ‘I am here for Henry.
‘I saw the video online when he was handcuffed and dragged on the floor after being stabbed and I want the police to be held accountable.’
At nearby Portswood Police Station, people were seen throwing glass bottles at police cars.
Later this evening, protesters chased riot squad police officers and launched wheelie bins at them.
Around a dozen officers were verbally abused and had objects thrown at them, including beer cans.
Protesters forced the blockade of officers back 20 metres as they charged at them.
One incident saw crowds hurl a flair at officers before others stormed at them while shouting: ‘Justice for Henry’.
Activist Rebekah Warne said: ‘I’m here because I fear for the safety of my child.
‘He’s 10 and I worry for his future. He’ll be 20 in 10 years and he’ll have to defend himself.
‘The streets scare me now as a woman. I can protect myself but it scares me for my son. Something needs to change.’
Sir Keir Starmer said the footage of Mr Nowak’s arrest made him ‘feel sick’ as he warned officers have ‘serious questions’ to answer over their treatment of the teen – adding it is ‘absolutely right’ that the police watchdog is investigating how officers handled the case.
Earlier today, while giving a statement in the House of Commons, Ms Mahmood warned of a ‘dangerous undercurrent’ of threats against the police.
She continued: ‘Threats against police officers are utterly unacceptable. There can be no justification for intimidation, abuse or attempts to take the law into one’s own hands.
‘A police officer unrelated to this case has been misidentified online and subjected to death threats. He has been forced to relocate to protect himself and his family.
‘Misinformation and inflammatory commentary is making a dreadful situation even worse. We must all, together, condemn it.’
She added that the IOPC will report on the case within three months.
In a statement tonight, Hampshire Constabulary said: ‘We know there has been significant commentary following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa yesterday afternoon, and we recognise the desire for answers about the police response that night.
‘However, what we cannot accept is the significant spread of misinformation online by those intent of causing further fear and division by making threats to officers and sharing names that are simply not true.’
Protesters have descended upon Southampton police station over the footage of Henry Nowak’s arrest
Demonstrators later began a march through the centre of Southampton while chanting ‘I can’t breathe’
Hampshire Police Federation also called for an end to ‘mob or vigilante justice against officers’ amid backlash over the case.
Footage released last night shows officers pulling Mr Nowak along the ground as he begs for help, telling officers he cannot breathe at least seven times before he is put in handcuffs.
The student died from drowning in his own blood shortly after his wrongful arrest, Southampton Crown Court heard.
Following the case, the UK Sikh Federation stressed the blade was not consistent with the Kirpan, a small, curved blade which many Sikhs wear close to their person. While it is legal for them to carry the weapon for religious reasons, it is deemed an offensive weapon if it is drawn in an act of aggression.
Judge William Mousley KC said he was ‘sure’ Mr Nowak never said anything racist to the murderer.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said Mr Nowak was ‘treated in a way that meant an accusation of a racial slur was treated more seriously than an act of murder’.
He said the last thing Mr Nowak heard on this Earth was being read his rights by officers as he lay dying on a pavement in handcuffs.
Mr Farage called for ‘pure cold rage’ over the case, which has been widely criticised after he claimed it suggests a ‘two tier’ approach to policing in the UK.
Mr Nowak’s father Mark, speaking after Digwa was sentenced on Monday, said: ‘We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension.’
Earlier, a spokesperson for Hampshire Police Federation said: ‘The murder of Henry Nowak was a tragedy, our thoughts are with his family and friends.
‘The officers’ actions that night are subject to rigorous independent scrutiny and we must let that process run its course.
‘The Police Federation condemns in the strongest possible terms the calls for mob or vigilante justice against officers we have seen in recent days.
‘That has included police officers being wrongly identified as being involved in the incident and personal details such as home address being widely published.
‘We call on politicians of all parties and media commentators to be more responsible in their comments – and allow due process for the officers involved to ensue.
Digwa (pictured) lied to police at the scene, telling officers Mr Nowak had not been stabbed and had instead attack him
‘As a staff association we are supporting all Hampshire Police officers and we urge all our members to take appropriate action online and offline to stay safe.’
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has apologised for arresting Mr Nowak minutes before his death.
It comes after Sir Keir told the Cabinet that an investigation into the police response must be carried out ‘as quickly as possible’.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said he paid tribute to ‘kind, thoughtful and much-loved’ Mr Nowak, whose life was ‘ripped away in the most appalling circumstances’.
IOPC Director Derrick Campbell said today: ‘Our thoughts and sympathies remain with everyone affected by Henry Nowak’s tragic death.
‘Our independent investigation into the contact Hampshire and Isle of Wight officers had with Mr Nowak immediately prior to his death on 4 December, including the use of handcuffs by officers and the first aid provided, remains ongoing.
‘Our investigation began following a mandatory referral from the force, which we received the same day.
‘We acknowledge that this case has raised questions about the actions of the attending officers and we are aware that a few minutes of police body worn footage has been issued by the force following the conclusion of criminal proceedings.
‘As part of our ongoing investigation we are reviewing a large amount of police body worn footage, which we need to consider in context with other evidence we have obtained, including reviewing material presented during the murder trial, as we establish the full circumstances.
‘Now that criminal proceedings have concluded, we are planning to meet with Mr Nowak’s family and provide them with updates about our investigation.
‘The officers involved are currently being treated as witnesses, however as with all investigations, this is kept under review throughout.’
