Protesters hurl bins & bricks in clash with riot cops injuring 11 as two arrested amid outrage over Henry Nowak murder

TWO people have been arrested and 11 police officers injured after bricks, bottles and bins were hurled in clashes with riot cops amid fury over Henry Nowak’s murder.

The tragic student, 18, died following a night out in Southampton – after cops arrested the teen despite his five stab wounds and pleas for help.

Last night, thugs pelted armed cops with missiles – including rocks, bottles, and bricks – as some protesters turned violent.

They even rolled several rubbish skips on wheels at riot cops as they tried to break them – with one of the bins having a fire started inside it.

The disorder saw 11 police officers and a police dog injured after the clashes turned violent.

Policing minister Sarah Jones told Times Radio: “Some of what we saw yesterday was unacceptable.

“There have been two arrests… one for assault of a police officer, one for possession of a weapon.

“We can’t allow – and the family have said we do not want to create further division, hatred, or tension, and I think we need to respect that.”

Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of demonstrators had gathered peacefully outside a Southampton police station.

But as the protests continued into the night, a breakaway group began chucking glass bottles, bins, stones, cans, and various other objects at riot police in the St Denys area where Henry was killed.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said the scenes in Portswood were “completely unacceptable”.

She said: “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.”

The Home Secretary added: “There can be no justification for hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder.”

Mahmood also said that those found responsible should “expect to face the full force of the law”.

It comes as it emerged Henry’s murderer Vickrum Digwa was known to police after allegedly stealing £1,000 worth of Sikh ceremonial knives.

Protester Andy Riddett, 38, who was pictured covered in blood after allegedly being hit by a police shield said: “I’m here to support Henry and for myself as well.

“I had a knife held to my chest by a stranger two years ago and reported it but the police did nothing about it.”

He added: “I was just trying to get through and the police shoved their shields into me twice. Now I’m covered in my own blood.”

The violent clashes came after bodycam footage showed Sikh man Vickrum Digwa, Henry’s killer, lying to police and accusing the university student of racially abusing him.

The clip showed police then handcuffing Henry as he lay bleeding to death following the random attack in Southampton in December.

When protests started peacefully earlier in the day, demonstrators waved Union Jacks and chanted “I can’t breathe” – Henry’s last words before he died.

Meanwhile officers from Hampshire Police lined the stairs of the station while protesters shouted “shame on you”.

Others protesters chanted “Henry, Henry” at the riot police blocking the street during the march.

One protester wore a t-shirt that said “RIP Henry Nowak”. A minute’s silence was also held.

Other placards said “save our kids” and “safety is a right not a privilege” while some held up photos of Henry.

One woman held a sign saying “Not racist just a worried mum”.

The crowd – including Tommy Robinson – reportedly marched to Portswood police station, just a few hundred yards from the murder scene.

A splinter group of around 100 protesters reportedly moved on later to outside BBC Radio Solent offices.

Meanwhile, a large group marched down Belmont Road into a wall of riot police.

Some protesters were heard shouting “Rupert Lowe, Rupert Lowe” as they made their way.

In December 2025, tragic Henry was returning home from a night out – when he was knifed five times with a 21cm ceremonial sword by Digwa.

When police arrived at the scene, Digwa accused his victim of making racist remarks – causing officers to arrest Henry as he lay dying.

Bodycam footage shows Henry telling cops several times that he had been stabbed – only for one to say “I don’t think you have, mate”.

The teenager was even heard in the clip saying “I can’t breathe” as well as “I’ve been stabbed”.

He tragically died just one hour after the video was taken.

One protester said he had seen the shocking police bodycam footage online and wanted the force to be held accountable.

He continued: “It angers me seeing them stood there in uniforms it angers me. We don’t want trouble but emotions are high.”

Following the demonstration, Hampshire police said: “”We understand and appreciate as police officers that we are accountable for our actions.

“What we ask, however, is that those actions are judged through fair and transparent processes. In this case, that process is already underway with the IOPC conducting their independent investigation.

“What we, as a society, cannot accept is the violent scenes we saw in Southampton last night.

“Some clearly arrived intent on causing disorder and trouble. We saw bottles thrown, makeshift weapons used, damage caused to the homes and vehicles of innocent residents and threats and violence directed towards our officers.

“As a result, 11 officers and one police dog were injured, while trying to do their job to protect the communities that we serve.

“While we are forced to deal with those determined to spark fear and division, our finite resources are taken away from those who need it most.

They added: “The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is continuing its independent investigation into our response on the night in question, following our self-referral the next day.

“While that progresses, we ask that people avoid harmful speculation online.”

Henry’s father, Mark Nowak, said after Monday’s sentencing: “We believe the officers involved remain on duty although we understand some may since have resigned.

“One was allowed to leave the force before she had given an account to the Independent Office of Police Conduct of what happened that evening.”

The attorney general’s office is now considering Digwa’s sentence after it was flooded with requests to review his jail time.

Sir Keir Starmer has called for the police watchdog investigation into the arrest to be “carried out as quickly as possible and answers delivered”.

The PM said it is right for IOPC to look into the officer’s actions after he watched the footage which left him feeling “sick”.

Speaking in the Commons, Mahmood said Henry’s family deserve answers.

She added: “It is a vile act, a crime of the utmost severity and it will be met with the severest punishment.”