UK Prime Minister condemns 'terrifying' riots in Southampton over student murder

Violent protests erupted in Southampton following the conviction of Vickrum Digwa for the murder of student Henry Nowak, resulting in injuries to eleven police officers and a police dog. The unrest escalated amid public anger over the police's initial handling of the December 2025 incident, where officers handcuffed a fatally stabbed Nowak while reportedly dismissing his pleas for help, misled by his attacker's false claims of racial abuse.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the "terrifying" violence, calling the attacks on police "disgraceful and completely unacceptable." He expressed deep concern over the "harrowing" bodycam footage of Nowak's arrest, emphasizing that serious questions must be addressed regarding the police's decision-making.

The Prime Minister's condemnation came as far-right figures amplified the protests, accusing the police of "two-tier policing" and attempting to exploit the tragedy for divisive political purposes, despite a plea from Henry Nowak's grieving family not to use his death to fuel hatred or division.