Two men charged after Southampton disorder over Henry Nowak murder

Two men have been charged in connection with disorder that occurred in Southampton following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa for the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak. Matt Styler faces a charge of assaulting a police officer, while Daniel Frost is charged with violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon. The disturbance, which resulted in eleven police officers being injured, took place near the killer's home. The Crown Prosecution Service stated that charges were brought after an investigation into alleged offending during protests held on Tuesday evening. Separately, the Independent Office for Police Conduct has requested that speculation about Nowak's death cease, as it is the subject of an ongoing investigation to establish the full circumstances and any potential officer misconduct. Nowak's father has condemned the police treatment of his son but urged against using his death to create further division.

Violent, racially charged protests erupted in Southampton following the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak by Vickrum Digwa. Digwa, who was sentenced to life imprisonment, falsely claimed to be a victim of a racist attack, leading police to initially handcuff Nowak as he lay dying. British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned the protests as "completely unacceptable," accusing demonstrators of hijacking the tragedy to incite violence against the police. The demonstrations were fueled by right-wing claims of a "two-tier" policing system that disadvantages white people. During the protests, police officers and a police dog were injured, and two arrests were made.

Vickrum Digwa, a 23-year-old British Sikh man, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 21 years for the murder of 18-year-old university student Henry Nowak. The killing occurred on December 3 in Southampton. Digwa was found guilty by a jury on Friday of murdering Nowak, an accountancy and finance student, on the street. The case drew attention after police handcuffed Nowak, who was dying from stab wounds, following a false claim of racial abuse made by Digwa. The judge stated he was certain Nowak had said nothing racist and that his treatment was inhumane.

Hundreds of people protested in Southampton following the murder of Henry Nowak, with dozens clashing with police. The demonstration, which included far-right activist Tommy Robinson, took place outside a police station and near the home of the killer, Vickrum Digwa. Protesters chanted slogans and hurled objects at officers, accusing them of racism and demanding accountability for Nowak's treatment. Nowak's father urged against using his son's death to create division, but Robinson and UKIP leader Nick Tenconi alleged institutional racism and "woke policing." Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned the disorder, stating there is no justification for hijacking the tragedy.

Protests erupted in Southampton after video emerged of police handcuffing 18-year-old Henry Nowak as he lay mortally wounded. Nowak was stabbed by a Sikh man and falsely accused of racially abusing his attacker. In bodycam footage from December, Nowak repeatedly told officers he couldn't breathe. Far-right figures, including Tommy Robinson, have used the case to claim police discriminate against white Britons, speaking at a rally in the city. Protesters threw bricks at police during the demonstrations.

Ch Insp Andy George, president of the National Black Police Association, warns that false claims of anti-white bias in policing could regress the service to the 1960s. This statement comes amid concerns that politicians like Nigel Farage are exploiting the murder of Henry Nowak to stoke tensions. Senior police figures are pushing back against these accusations, with former chief inspector Sir Andy Cooke stating he found no evidence of anti-white bias. Nowak's father has condemned the police's "inhumane and degrading" treatment of his son but urged against using his death to create division. Hampshire's chief constable has apologized for the way Nowak was arrested and handcuffed after being stabbed, an incident being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Newly released bodycam footage shows police handcuffing an 18-year-old university student, Henry Nowak, who was dying from stab wounds on a Southampton street on December 3, 2025. Nowak repeatedly told officers he had been stabbed and could not breathe, but one officer responded, "I don’t think you have, mate." Officers later removed the handcuffs and attempted CPR after realizing the severity of his injuries. The incident occurred following the murder conviction of Vickrum Digwa, who was sentenced to life in prison for stabbing Nowak with a 21-centimeter blade. The case has led to political backlash and renewed debate over policing, race, and knife crime, with the police force apologizing for handcuffing Nowak before he lost consciousness. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the police response.

The fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak in December has sparked debate in Britain regarding policing, race, and knife crime. Nowak was handcuffed by police despite claiming he was the victim of a stabbing, while his killer, Vickrum Digwa, stood nearby. A video released showed officers dismissing Nowak's claims. Digwa had initially told police he was the victim of a racist attack by Nowak, but the court determined Digwa had lied. The case gained renewed attention following Digwa's sentencing to life in prison and protests erupted outside a police station. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated there were questions to be answered regarding how accusations of racism influenced decision-making. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the officers' response.

An anti-police protest in Southampton over the murder of Henry Nowak escalated into violence on Tuesday night. The demonstration, initially peaceful outside the central police station, saw hundreds march to the neighborhood where Nowak died and his killer, Vickrum Digwa, lived. Protesters threw objects at riot police, who prevented them from reaching Digwa's family home. Residents reported being terrified by the destruction, with cars damaged and streets littered with debris. The protest, addressed by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, chanted slogans against the police, who had arrested Nowak after Digwa claimed he was racially abused. Nowak's father condemned the police's treatment of his son but urged against using his death to create division.

Riots broke out in Alice Springs, Australia, following the arrest of a man suspected of murdering five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby. Hundreds of protesters gathered at the hospital where the suspect, Jefferson Lewis, was taken after being beaten unconscious by locals. Demonstrators called for "payback" and threw projectiles, starting fires and injuring emergency workers, while damaging police vehicles, ambulances, and fire trucks. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. The girl had been missing since Saturday and her body was found on Thursday. Lewis, who has prior assault convictions, reportedly presented himself to police before locals administered vigilante justice. Authorities are appealing for calm.

Jefferson Lewis, a 47-year-old man, was arrested in Alice Springs in connection with the death of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby. Following his arrest, a crowd gathered outside the hospital where Lewis was being treated, leading to clashes with police. During the unrest, police vehicles and bins were set alight, and objects were thrown at officers, who responded with tear gas. Lewis has since been transported to Darwin for safety reasons. Northern Territory police commissioner Martin Dole stated that charges are anticipated soon and urged the community to allow the police to conduct their investigation. The unrest has reportedly been quelled.

Northern Territory police will charge individuals for unrest in Alice Springs following the arrest of Jefferson Lewis in connection with the death of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby. A crowd of approximately 400 gathered outside Alice Springs hospital on Friday after news spread that Lewis, who had been arrested by police, was inside. Lewis was found unconscious after reportedly being subjected to vigilante justice in a town camp, and police officers responding to the scene were also assaulted. The grandfather of Kumanjayi Little Baby, a senior Warlpiri elder, appealed for calm, stating the violence was not "our way." The town is in mourning over the child's death, whose body was discovered on Thursday.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley has stated that Green Party leader Zack Polanski's sharing of a post criticizing the arrest of a terror suspect in Golders Green will have a "chilling effect." The incident involved the stabbing of two Jewish individuals, after which a 45-year-old man was arrested and subdued with a stun gun. Polanski retweeted a post alleging officers repeatedly kicked the incapacitated suspect. Rowley defended the officers' actions, emphasizing the danger posed by the suspect and the need to protect London's Jewish community, which has faced targeted attacks. He called for political leaders to show solidarity, condemn antisemitism, and support officers protecting the public. A Green Party source indicated Polanski, while acknowledging the difficult situation, seeks further understanding of the police response.