Lead

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has accused Elon Musk and other right-wing figures of exploiting the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak to "whip up division" in the country. The case, which involves a white student fatally stabbed by a Sikh man who falsely claimed to be the victim of a racist assault, has become a lightning rod for debates over policing, race and immigration in Britain.

Starmer's comments came amid widespread violence in Southampton and Belfast and as the US administration, including Vice President JD Vance and the State Department, weighed in with sharp criticism of the UK's handling of the case.

Coverage comparison

Multiple reports from ABC Australia, Al Jazeera and The Guardian describe Starmer accusing Musk of "interfering in our politics" and attempting to create division. ABC Australia framed the accusation as Musk using "far-right themes and talking points" in his posts. Al Jazeera reported Starmer accusing "right-wing figures" more broadly of exploiting the killing for political gain. The Guardian also covered the prime minister's remarks, quoting him as saying Britain is a nation of "reasonable, tolerant people" who "react calmly" to tragedies, as Nowak's family has done.

The Guardian's coverage additionally detailed the government's response to the disorder, including the attorney general's office and the culture and media department stopping their use of X. The newspaper also reported that social media companies have been ordered to implement emergency measures, and that the government is considering further action to curb misinformation during public crises.

The Hindu, reporting from a South Asian perspective, focused on the legal aftermath—six more people charged with violent disorder in Southampton—and on US Vice President JD Vance's comments blaming immigration for Nowak's death.

Key claims

  • Starmer's accusation against Musk: Starmer said Musk has been "interfering in our politics... trying to whip up division," referencing Musk's repeated posts about Nowak's case, which included suggestions of official police racism against white people and offers to fund a private prosecution of the police. This was reported by ABC Australia and The Guardian.
  • Violence and charges in Southampton: Eleven police officers were injured during a protest in Southampton over Nowak's death, according to The Guardian. The Hindu reported that six more people have been charged with violent disorder, bringing the total to eleven charged in connection with the protest.
  • Government departures from X: The attorney general's office stopped posting on X due to concerns about the platform's role in inciting violence and racism, as reported by The Guardian. The culture and media department, led by Lisa Nandy, announced it would also leave the platform, saying it "now favours abuse and misinformation over meaningful debate."
  • Social media emergency measures: Ofcom will require platforms such as X and TikTok to have "crisis protocols" in place to stop illegal content spreading during emergencies. This was reported by The Guardian.
  • US criticism: The US State Department posted on X that "ideological conditioning and two-tiered policing are glaring symptoms of civilisational decline," a statement reported by The Guardian and The Hindu. Vice President JD Vance separately said Nowak's death was caused in part by "the mass invasion of migrants," as reported by The Hindu.

Perspectives

UK government: Prime Minister Starmer rejected the claim of "two-tier policing," saying the UK has "policing without fear or favour," and condemned attempts to interfere in the country's democracy. His office called on the public to respect the Nowak family's wish that his death not be used to create further division.

US administration: The State Department criticized the UK's handling of the case, and Vice President Vance blamed immigration for Nowak's death, calling for "righteous anger." Their comments were described by UK officials as attempts to interfere in UK politics.

Liberal Democrats: Party leader Ed Davey called the US comments "flagrant foreign interference" and urged Starmer to summon the US ambassador, as reported by The Guardian.

Wes Streeting, former health secretary: He called for urgent action against X and other platforms, suggesting they should be forced to contribute to rebuilding costs after riots, as reported by The Guardian.