Violence erupted in the port city of Southampton in England after police released bodycam footage showing officers handcuffing fatally wounded university student Henry Nowak moments before his death
Violence erupted in the port city of Southampton in England after police released bodycam footage showing officers handcuffing fatally wounded university student Henry Nowak moments before his death. Nowak died from a British Indian Sikh’s kirpan attack last year, fueling protests across England.
On Tuesday night, clashes occurred, and 11 police officers and a police dog were wounded as demonstrators clashed with riot police. The demonstrators hurled bricks, bottles and wheelie bins against the authorities, The Times of India reported.
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Homes and vehicles were damaged during the clashes as crowds shouted “Racist police, off our streets” and carried signs reading “Henry’s blood is on your hands”. Demonstrators also took the knee, echoing demonstrations after the death of George Floyd in the United States. The protesters demanded that police officers should also do the same.
The clashes came a day after authorities released footage from Hampshire police showing officers placing 18-year-old Nowak in handcuffs and reading him his rights shortly after he was stabbed by 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa.
The Indian man stabbed Henry with Kripan, a Sikh ceremonial dagger, on Dec 4, 2025. Critics argued that officers chose to believe Digwa’s account that Nowak had pulled off his turban, despite Nowak repeatedly telling police, “I can’t breathe” and “I have been stabbed”.
It is pertinent to note that the bodycam footage was released hours after Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for murdering Nowak, The Times of India reported. Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers have blamed anti-racism guidance issued last year by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), along with the Hampshire police’s anti-racism action plan.
However, NPCC confirmed its guidance is under review following backlash. On Tuesday, Digwa appeared in court alongside his brother Gurpreet Digwa, 27, and father Moga Singh, 52. All three men are facing six counts of possessing offensive weapons. Britain’s Sikh community heads have condemned Digwa and sought to distance the faith from the killing.
First Published:
June 04, 2026, 15:31 IST
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