The British government has rejected comments by United States Vice President JD Vance after he linked the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak to what he described as Europe’s failure to resist mass migration.
Vance made the remarks on Friday in a post on X, saying Nowak “died the same way a civilization dies” and accusing European leaders of abandoning citizens through what he called “the mass invasion of migrants.” His comments drew a swift response from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office, which warned against foreign figures using the case to stir division in Britain.
Nowak, a university student, was fatally stabbed in Southampton in December by 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, a British Sikh man. Digwa falsely told police he was the victim and claimed Nowak had racially abused him. Bodycam footage later showed officers handcuffing Nowak as he lay seriously injured before they realised he was the stabbing victim. Digwa has since been convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years.
The case has triggered anger in Britain and abroad, with critics accusing police of mishandling the initial response. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the actions of officers at the scene. The killing has also sparked violent protests in Southampton, with police charging several people in connection with disorder linked to demonstrations after the case gained wider attention.
The controversy widened after the US State Department criticised what it called “two-tiered policing” in Britain, a phrase often used by right-wing commentators to allege unequal treatment by police based on race, politics or ideology. Vance, a prominent critic of European migration policy, became the highest-ranking US official to weigh in publicly on the case.
Downing Street rejected the intervention, saying the government had seen attempts to “interfere in our democracy” and “stir up division on our streets.” Starmer’s spokesperson also pointed to the wishes of Nowak’s family, who have urged that his death not be used to fuel hatred or political confrontation.
Starmer separately accused billionaire Elon Musk, who has repeatedly posted about the case on X, of trying to “whip up division” in Britain.
The dispute has deepened tensions between London and senior figures in President Donald Trump’s administration, while turning Nowak’s killing into a flashpoint in wider debates over policing, migration and public order.
