UK: Southampton Erupts As Riot Police Confront Protesters Over Henry Nowak Case.

Southampton, United Kingdom - June 02, 2026 Video filmed by X user Nate shows police officers in full riot gear during clashes with protesters in Southampton on the evening of June 2, 2026. The post on X is captioned: “Police in riot gear Southampton.” The footage shows officers wearing helmets with visors, carrying shields and dressed in protective riot equipment standing in formation on a street while facing a large and hostile crowd. The confrontation unfolded during demonstrations over the police handling of the murder of 18-year-old British-Polish university student Henry Nowak. The protests followed the conviction and sentencing of 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa for stabbing Nowak five times in December 2025. Protesters gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station before moving toward the area near Digwa's family home. Anger has focused on bodycam footage that reportedly showed police officers handcuffing and restraining the dying Nowak as he repeatedly said, “I can't breathe” and told them he had been stabbed. Critics have accused police of prioritizing Digwa's allegation that Nowak had racially abused and assaulted him, a claim later described as false, instead of providing immediate medical assistance. The case has fueled accusations of "two-tier policing," concerns over knife crime, and demands for accountability from the officers involved. The family of Henry Nowak described the police treatment as "inhumane" but also urged people not to use the tragedy to promote division or hatred. During the unrest, protesters threw traffic cones, wheelie bins, bricks, bottles, cans, flares and an e-scooter at police lines. The clashes left 11 officers and one police dog injured. Two people were arrested as Hampshire Police deployed riot-equipped units to maintain order and prevent the crowd from reaching its intended target.