Eleven police officers and a police dog were injured during violent disorder in Southampton on Tuesday night, Hampshire Police Chief Constable Alexis Boon has confirmed. The unrest, which involved hundreds of people claiming to protest the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, left a trail of destruction with smashed car windows and bricks strewn across roads.
The protest began peacefully outside Southampton Central Police Station but escalated as the crowd marched to the neighbourhood where Nowak died and where his killer, Vickrum Digwa, lived. Riot police intervened to prevent protesters from reaching Digwa's family home, facing a barrage of bricks, wheelie bins, bottles, and beer cans.
Chief Constable Boon condemned the violence, stating: '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.' He added that two arrests have been made and vowed to bring all involved to justice.
Local residents described the terror of the night. Sophie Martin, a neighbour of the Digwa family, said both families' cars were destroyed: 'It was absolutely terrifying. Our two young boys were asleep. It is just an absolute destruction.' Labour councillor John Savage called the violence 'absolutely outrageous' and noted that many demonstrators appeared to have come from outside the area.
Labour council leader Sarah Bogle expressed distress over the events, urging respect for the wishes of Nowak's family to reduce tensions. She said: 'It's awful when these tragedies are weaponised by people who should know better, whether it's politicians or the far right.' The far-right activist Tommy Robinson was seen addressing crowds during the protest.
