Southampton residents in shock after night of ‘terrifying’ protest violence

Southampton residents described a night of terror as an anti-police protest over the murder of Henry Nowak descended into widespread vandalism. Cars were left with smashed windows and streets were littered with bricks and debris in the Portswood area, where the victim's killer, Vickrum Digwa, lived.

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It was absolutely terrifying. Our two young boys were asleep. It is just an absolute destruction, and I just thought, what am I going to tell the kids, they’re three and six.

Sophie Martin, a neighbor of the Digwa family, recounted the frightening experience, stating, “It was absolutely terrifying. Our two young boys were asleep. It is just an absolute destruction.” She added that her family's cars were damaged and they feared for their safety even after the rioting subsided. "Even when the rioting had stopped and we had taped up the cars we still couldn’t sleep because we were worried they would come back. A few people have said we should move out for a bit,” she said.

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It was absolutely petrifying. I know they weren’t targeting us but my other half has decided not to go to work today.

The protest, which began outside Southampton central police station, was advertised as “Justice for Henry Nowak.” The student was fatally stabbed five times by Digwa. Police initially arrested Nowak after Digwa claimed the teenager had racially abused and assaulted him. The far-right activist Tommy Robinson was among those who addressed the crowd. Chants of “Racist police, off our streets” and “Shame on you” were heard, with signs bearing slogans like “Henry’s blood is on your hands.”

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There is glass absolutely everywhere. We are going to be massively out of pocket. Even when the rioting had stopped and we had taped up the cars we still couldn’t sleep because we were worried they would come back. A few people have said we should move out for a bit.

Despite the violence, Henry Nowak's father, Mark Nowak, condemned the police's treatment of his son but urged against using his death to fuel further division. “We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We want his story to help make our streets safer for everyone,” he stated.

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Racist police, off our streets