More than one thousand protesters gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station last night to demand action after the murder of Henry Nowak.
The 18-year-old finance student was killed on December 3 last year after walking home from a night out in the South Coast city.
He was stabbed five times, including a fatal wound to the chest, by murderer Vickrum Digwa with a 21cm Sikh ceremonial blade.
Crowds gathered at around 6pm on Tuesday evening to hold a minute’s silence for the slain teenager, with shouts of “shame on you” also being heard.
Protesters, including members of the Polish community, urged police to “take the knee” and shouted “I can’t breathe”.
Groups of marchers later took the knee themselves near where Mr Nowak was murdered.
Outside the police station, crowds gathered to listen to speakers – one of whom called for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary to “sack and prosecute” the officers involved in Mr Nowak’s arrest, and pay compensation to his family.
That came just hours after an officer involved in Mr Nowak’s arrest resigned.
Three of the officers involved in the arrest are still serving, the force said yesterday – while all four are being treated as witnesses in an investigation by the police watchdog.
Over a thousand protesters have gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station to demand that action be taken after the murder of Henry Nowak
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‘People are tired, they’re aggrieved, they’re fed up,’ a reverend at the protest told GB News
Another speaker said: “Our children are being sacrificed on the altar of political correctness.”
Later into the evening, violent clashes broke out between riot police and demonstrators, with police confirming one person has been arrested.
Some were seen setting commercial bins on fire before rolling them towards lines of officers – one large bin broke through a barricade and was seen burning behind them.
An unmarked police car was also surrounded by protesters who shouted “scum” at the officer inside.
Local authorities also deployed pepper spray after officers were allegedly hit by objects thrown.
Crowds gathered at around 6pm on Tuesday evening to hold a minute’s silence for the teenager
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Social media footage appeared to show a group of protesters throwing bins at police.
A smaller group of protesters, numbering around 100, split off from the larger demonstration to gather outside the BBC Radio Solent offices.
Speaking to GB News, a reverend attending the protest said: “For me as a reverend, I think it’s important that we stand with the people and stand up for truth and righteousness and justice.
“What we’re getting very tired of seeing in our nation is our children being sacrificed on the altars of multiculturalism and political correctness.
“This is why I’m here today. People are tired, they’re aggrieved, they’re fed up.
Reacting to the scenes, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: ‘The scenes this evening in Portswood are completely unacceptable’
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The Home Secretary warned that those involved in the disorder ‘can expect to face the full force of the law’
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“The bodycam footage only really highlighted what we already suspected – we have a political system that’s so indoctrinated, even our police, that when they see a man that’s clearly in a state of distress, all they see is that he was a racist.
“We’ve got to get past this. We need to get past this whole kind of hysteria over the flag-waving, misogynistic, racist, bigoted white guy, which seems to be drummed into our political system, our education system, and sadly, in our constabulary.
He added: “I want to see justice in our nation again and practical policing.”
Reacting to the scenes, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “The scenes this evening in Portswood are completely unacceptable.
“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 crowds gathered around 6pm this evening to hold a minute’s silence for the teenager
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“There can be no justification for hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder. Those responsible can expect to face the full force of the law.
“I thank the police who have tonight shown great bravery and calm in the face of disgraceful violence directed at them.”
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary previously apologised for the treatment of the university student, who was handcuffed just moments before he died.
Following public outrage after harrowing footage of the 18-year-old’s arrest was released last night, a police officer involved in the case has resigned.
The force confirmed three other police officers involved in his arrest remain in place.
Police have confirmed that one person has been arrested during violent clashes between riot police and demonstrators
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A spokesman said: “Three of the officers are still serving, one officer has resigned. As the IOPC has confirmed, they are all being treated as witnesses, so not subject to any current restrictions.”
Digwa, 23, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years at Southampton Crown Court yesterday afternoon.
He was found guilty of two charges, murder and carrying a knife in public.
Digwa’s mother, Kirun Kaur, also received a guilty verdict for assisting a defendant by removing the weapon from the scene.
GB News understands there is a strong police presence at the protest, monitoring the perimeter
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Nicholas Lobbenberg KC, prosecuting, told the court: “This was a sustained attack on an unarmed man. The defendant is skilled with weapons, he trained with weapons, he sleeps in a room with weapons, he searches for weapons on his phone.”
He added: “The Crown says he is a man with a weapons obsession. He chose to use a weapon on the streets of Southampton, this demonstrates in his mind what he had was a weapon ready and available for his use.”
The judge also addressed claims Mr Nowak had used a racist word against Digwa, which the killer’s defence had used to aid Digwa in his case.
When addressing Digwa, the judge said: “I am sure that Henry said nothing racist. You are the only person to make that claim and it is completely at odds with his previous character.”
The judge noted “Henry Nowak dying alone, humiliated and handcuffed was a direct consequence of Vickrum Digwa’s dishonesty” and Digwa’s defence “describing Henry as a violent, drunk, racist aggressor, compounds the grief of the family”.
