Southampton protests erupt after student Henry Nowak’s murder

On 2 June 2026 18‑year‑old British student Henry Nowak was fatally stabbed in Southampton. Body‑camera footage released by Hampshire Police showed officers handcuffing the bleeding victim while his attacker, Vickrum Digwa, claimed to have been the target of a racist attack. Digwa was later sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years.

The video triggered public outrage, prompting thousands of people to gather outside the Portswood police station in Southampton. Protesters, many unmasked and unarmed, expressed anger at what they described as a "two‑tier policing" approach that prioritized the alleged victim over Nowak. Some protesters threw projectiles at police officers stationed nearby. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the footage "sickening" and admitted serious questions about the influence of racism accusations on police conduct.

In Brussels, Flemish MEP Tom Vandendriessche used the incident to demand a revision of the EU Anti‑Racism Strategy 2026‑2030, arguing that it excludes native Europeans and creates institutional bias. He submitted a written question to the European Commission seeking evidence that the strategy does not produce unequal treatment before the law.