Eleven police officers injured in Southampton riots over Henry Nowak’s death

Bricks and chairs were thrown at police as protesters, joined by Tommy Robinson and former actor Laurence Fox, pushed towards his killer Vickrum Digwa’s home.

Policing minister Sarah Jones said that two people had been arrested for assaulting a police officer and possession of a weapon.

She also urged protesters to let justice take its course and said officers are now scouring footage from the riot in a bid to make further arrests.

Digwa was jailed for life earlier this week for murdering Henry, who was arrested as he lay dying when his killer told officers he was the victim of racism.

A man throws a wheelie bin as people confront riot police near the location where Henry Nowak died (Picture: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)

Far-right activists turned up despite Henry’s father, Mark, saying that he didn’t want the 18-year-old’s death to be used to create ‘hatred or tension’ outside court following the sentencing.

Police formed cordons across residential streets in Portswood as crowds surged forward, with officers in riot gear holding shields while flares and debris were thrown from within the crowd.

Tempers flared late into the evening with protesters breaking into side streets.

Under the banner of Justice for Henry, the protesters shouted ‘f**king scum’ at police as they were held back.

Hampshire Police have since said 11 officers and one police dog were injured in clashes with protesters.

She praised the family’s dignity and restraint. Appealing to the rioters, Jones said: ‘I think we need to respect that.’

During the protest, people took the knee for Henry and demanded police do the same – a move mimicking Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd.

Some people were seen with blood on their faces, including a protester draped in a Union Flag who was hit with a traffic cone aimed at police.

Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Steve Yaxley Lennon, spoke to the crowd saying he had been warning of this for 20 years.

Despite Digwa being Sikh, Robinson said: ‘To be a victim of a race gang, i.e. Pakistani Muslims, will be beating up a white kid, the police will turn up, and they jump on the white kid.

‘What the whole world can see now with Henry’s video is what we all know already. The different treatment of white people compared to non-whites. And we see this spreading to every institution in this country. The crying, the pleading “I can’t breathe” – it’s insane.’

He concluded: ‘I heard someone say this wasn’t about race; this is about race.’

He was then surrounded by supporters as they marched through the street. When one of them asked where they were going, an organiser shrugged and said: ‘Just follow the crowd.’

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned the violence last night, saying: ‘The scenes this evening in Portswood are completely unacceptable.

‘The Nowak family made a powerful call to us all yesterday to not let Henry’s death be used to create further division, hatred or tension.

‘There can be no justification for hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder. Those responsible can expect to face the full force of the law.’

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage accused the officers of being part of a system where the ‘rights and privileges of white people matter less than those of ethnic minorities’.

He said Henry had been ‘treated in a way that meant an accusation of a racial slur was treated more seriously than an act of murder’.

He added: ‘A promotion of the idea that white lives matter just as much as black lives.’

The phrase ‘white lives matter’ was echoed by former Tory MPs who defected to Reform—Suella Braverman on X and Robert Jenrick in a question to the Home Secretary.

Keir Starmer said Farage’s response was the ‘wrong reaction’.

He said: ‘I start my answer to your question through the eyes of the family. They said they do not want this whipped up; they’ve been through the most extraordinary, awful experience.’

Henry was stabbed to death by Digwa in December 2025 following a brief interaction.

Digwa repeatedly lied, saying that he had been the victim of a racist attack, leading to Henry being arrested.

When Henry told officers he had been stabbed, one said: ‘I don’t think you have, mate.’

Hampshire Police has apologised to his family, who called his treatment ‘inhumane and degrading’ and said they would be carrying their grief ‘every single day’.

A police officer involved in the arrest has now quit, Hampshire Police said, and three others continue to serve. Another who was not involved was forced into hiding after being wrongly identified.