UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has accused US tech billionaire Elon Musk of “trying to whip up division” in Britain amid growing controversy surrounding the police handling of a high-profile murder case involving an 18-year-old student in Southampton.
The case has sparked intense political debate in the UK after the killing of Henry Nowak, who was stabbed to death by Vickrum Digwa, a 23-year-old man. Digwa later misled police, claiming he was the victim and alleging that Nowak had made racist remarks. He has since been sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in prison for the murder.
The incident has become highly politicised, with far-right figures claiming it reflects unequal treatment in policing—an allegation strongly denied by both the UK government and police authorities. Starmer recently met with Nowak’s family at Downing Street, where he expressed condolences and called for unity, urging the country to “choose unity and progress over division and hatred.”
Elon Musk has repeatedly commented on the case on his social media platform X, questioning police procedures and making claims that have been widely disputed. His posts have intensified public debate, with critics accusing him of spreading misinformation and inflaming tensions.
The UK government has stressed that official statistics show complex disparities in arrest rates across communities, while independent reports have previously raised concerns about institutional issues within policing. However, officials insist that claims of systemic bias in this specific case are unfounded.
Starmer also condemned recent unrest linked to the case, stating that violence at protests is “unforgivable” and warning against attempts to exploit the tragedy for political purposes. He further criticised political figures, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, for remarks he said could inflame tensions, though Farage has defended his position and rejected accusations of encouraging violence.
The US State Department has also commented on the wider debate, expressing condolences to the victim’s family while warning against what it described as “ideological conditioning and two-tier policing,” further adding to the international attention around the case.
An official investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is currently underway, and an inquest into the police handling of the incident is scheduled for 2027. Starmer has acknowledged that “difficult questions” remain about how authorities responded during the incident, as scrutiny of the case continues.
Recent Random Post:
