UK Condemns Southampton Protest Violence After 11 Officers Are Injured
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 3
UK Condemns Southampton Protest Violence After 11 Officers Are Injured
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 3
Summary
Two arrests and 11 injured officers followed Tuesday clashes in Southampton, where protesters angry over Henry Nowak’s death hurled chairs, cans, rocks and flares at police.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said activists had hijacked the tragedy to stir up disorder, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the violence disgraceful and unacceptable.
The protest followed Monday’s murder sentence for 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, who got life with a minimum 21 years after falsely claiming 18-year-old Nowak had racially assaulted him.
Video released after sentencing showed officers initially treating the stabbed, handcuffed Nowak as a suspect; the police watchdog is investigating and national chiefs will review anti-racism guidance.
Nowak’s family urged people not to turn the case into division, even as Nigel Farage and other far-right figures cast it as evidence of "two-tier policing."