See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy GETHIN HICKS, REPORTER Published: 18:37 BST, 2 June 2026 | Updated: 18:58 BST, 2 June 2026
Hundreds of protesters have gathered outside Southampton police station after footage of Henry Nowak's arrest sparked widespread backlash. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the bodycam footage of Nowak, 18, in handcuffs after being brutally knifed by Vickrum Digwa last December made him 'feel sick'. It showed the teenager desperately telling officers four times, 'I've been stabbed', to which one policeman replied: 'I don't think you have mate'.Mr Nowak would succumb to his stab wounds moments later, and the footage - released last night after Digwa, 23, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years - has since sparked fury. In a video posted to social media on Tuesday, activist Tommy Robinson described it as 'horrific' while calling on supporters to attend a protest outside Southampton police station this evening.And demonstrators arrived in their numbers, with pictures and clips shared online showing crowds carrying Union Jacks descending upon the station just before 6pm. Some held banners reading 'Save our kids', while others paraded pictures of Novak with the caption: 'I can't breathe'. A large police presence was put in place outside the station, as some members of the crowd donned T-shirts reading: 'RIP Henry Nowak'. Dozens of protesters have descended upon Southampton police station over the footage of Henry Nowak's arrest Some carried banners reading 'Save our kids' while others paraded Union Jacks with the words 'Unite the Kingdom' It came after activist Tommy Robinson (pictured centre-right) announced he would be in attendance in a video posted to social media Mr Nowak was a finance student at the University of Southampton and was described as 'kind and talented' by his familyIt came after Hampshire Police was forced to apologise to Mr Nowak's family for the video, as it emerged that one of the officers had resigned from his post, the force confirmed. Three of the officers are still serving while all four are being treated as witnesses in the watchdog's investigation. Digwa, who did not know his victim, was yesterday jailed for life for stabbing the finance student with an eight-inch ceremonial blade he had been carrying. At the scene, Digwa lied to police and told them Mr Nowak had racially abused him and knocked off his turban. As Mr Nowak lay helpless and drowning in his own blood on the floor, he told an officer, 'I've been stabbed'. In a statement released today, the PM warned police have to face 'serious questions' over their treatment of the teen before adding 'it is absolutely right' that the watchdog is investigating how officers handled the case.A different police officer previously received death threats and was 'forced to relocate' after being wrongly identified online as being involved in the murder case, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said today. Giving a statement in the House of Commons this afternoon, Ms Mahmood warned of a 'dangerous undercurrent' of threats against the police.She continued: 'Threats against police officers are utterly unacceptable. There can be no justification for intimidation, abuse or attempts to take the law into one's own hands.'A police officer unrelated to this case has been misidentified online and subjected to death threats. He has been forced to relocate to protect himself and his family.'Misinformation and inflammatory commentary is making a dreadful situation even worse. We must all, together, condemn it.'She added that the IOPC will report on the case within three months. After gathering outside the station, protestors began a march through the centre of Southampton Within an hour the size of the crowd grew to hundreds Vickrum Digwa, 23, was yesterday jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years for the killing of Mr NowakDigwa is now facing additional charges of owning six offensive weapons at his Southampton home, while his brother and father appeared in court today charged with similar offences. More to follow.
