Good Morning Britain delivered a major development regarding the Henry Nowak case.
Hosts Ed Balls and Susanna Reid revealed that two individuals have been detained following demonstrations concerning the 18-year-old’s death.
As the breaking news banner appeared on screen during the ITV broadcast, Susanna stated: “Breaking news this morning, policing minister Sarah Jones says that two people have been arrested after riot police clashed with crowds protesting over the arrest and murder of the teenager Henry Nowak in Southampton.”
She continued: “Hundreds of people gathered near to where Henry was stabbed to death by Vickrum Digwa, who falsely claimed that he had been the victim of a racial attack.”
Susanna reported that certain demonstrators hurled “wheelie bins, bottles and bricks” towards officers. “Others chanted ‘I can’t breathe’, which were Henry’s last words as he lay dying,” Susanna stated.
Ed subsequently noted: “The Home Secretary has accused protesters of hijacking tragedy, stressing that the Nowak family had asked that Henry’s death shouldn’t be used to create further division.”
The programme then switched to correspondent Jonathan Swain, reporting live from Southampton, where evidence of the disturbances remained visible. Ed confirmed that detentions had occurred during the night, reports the Express.
The journalist commented: “There has been national outcry and anger and upset. Not just at Henry’s murder, but also the response by the police to all of this. Last night, there was anger directed directly at the police.
This follows policing minister Sarah Jones telling Times Radio: “There have been two arrests, as I understand it from my briefing this morning, one for assault of a police officer, one for possession of a weapon.”
Southampton student Henry was handcuffed after killer Vickrum Digwa, 23, lied to police at the scene of the 2025 stabbing, claiming he had been the victim of a racist attack.
Footage released by the force, with permission from Nowak’s family, shows him pleading “I’ve been stabbed” and an officer replying “I don’t think you have mate”.
Nowak suffered stab wounds to his legs and a fatal wound to his heart from a 21cm (8in) blade that Digwa said he carried as part of his Sikh faith. He was jailed for life with a minimum 21-year term.
