Henry Nowak (left) and Vikrum Degua (right)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has accused tech billionaire Elon Musk of “trying to cause division” in Britain in the wake of public outrage over the killing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, who was stabbed by 23-year-old Sikh man Vikram Singh Dhigwa in Southampton.Speaking during a visit to Yorkshire, Starmer said the UK must “affirm our identity as a country”, adding that outside voices were trying to inflame tensions. He stressed that Britain remained a “reasonable and tolerant” society and urged calm in response to this issue.“We also need to assert our identity as a country, because Musk, once again, has been meddling in our politics in the last few days, trying to create division.
Agence France-Presse quoted Starmer as saying: “This is not how we are in Britain.”
The comments come amid controversy over Musk’s recent social media activity on X, where he has repeatedly commented on Nowak’s case.His posts reportedly amplified narratives about alleged bias in the UK judicial system, drawing criticism from political leaders who accused him of deepening sectarian tensions and influencing internal debate from the outside.
Labor MP Robert Lowe, who has also been vocal on the issue, backed Musk and said Starmer “hates Musk because he gave the British people a real platform for free speech.”
The case centers on the murder of 18-year-old Henry Novak in Southampton in December. He was killed by Vikram Dhigwa, a case that has since sparked a wider debate about policing, knife crime and the handling of hate-related allegations.The reports also raised questions about the initial police response at the scene, including criticism that the victim was briefly restrained while officers assessed the situation before the severity of his injuries became clear.The case sparked protests in parts of the United Kingdom, with marches turning violent in some areas. Demonstrations associated with the “Justice for Henry Nowak” campaign saw clashes with police, resulting in officers being injured and arrests.Far-right activists, including figures such as Tommy Robinson, addressed some rallies, while authorities accused certain groups of exploiting the tragedy to foment unrest.Earlier today, Degoa appeared in court alongside his father and brother on separate allegations of weapons offences.