The death of a White student who was handcuffed by police after he had been stabbed is provoking a national outcry in Britain, with officers under fire for their conduct and far-right leaders accused of using the teen’s murder to stoke racist violence for political gain.
Earlier, on Tuesday evening, that outcry spilled into clashes when hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside a police station in the southern English coastal city of Southampton, where they were stirred up by far-right activists and clashed with riot police, throwing bricks and other projectiles, injuring 11 officers.
Protestors confront riot police during a demonstration over the police's handling of the fatal stabbing of Henry Nowak, in Southampton, England, on Tuesday. Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images
They also chanted “Henry, Henry,” referring to 18-year-old White student Henry Nowak, who police handcuffed as he lay dying from stab wounds inflicted by Vickrum Digwa. The 23-year-old Sikh man had falsely alleged to officers that he had been the victim of a racist attack. In upsetting bodycam footage released by Hampshire Police, Nowak pleaded with officers saying, “I can’t breathe” and “I’ve been stabbed.” An officer replied, “I don’t think you have, mate.”
