Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has accused billionaire businessman and social media owner Elon Musk of attempting to deepen divisions in Britain following the murder of teenager Henry Nowak.
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The comments came after footage emerged showing police officers handcuffing the 18-year-old as he lay fatally injured. In the video, Nowak repeatedly tells officers that he cannot breathe. His killer, Vickrum Digwa, had claimed he was the victim of a racist attack.
The case has sparked public anger, with violent protests breaking out near the scene of the killing in Southampton. Musk, who owns the social media platform X, has posted several messages criticising the police response to the incident.
PM Criticises Musk's Comments
During a visit to York on Thursday, Starmer said Musk had been interfering in British politics and accused him of seeking to inflame tensions.
"Musk, again, has been interfering in our politics in the last few days, trying to whip up division – that is not who we are in Britain," the prime minister said.
He added that Britain was a country of "reasonable, tolerant people" and pointed to the response of Nowak's family, who have urged the public to remain calm following the teenager's death.
Investigations Underway
Starmer said the conduct of the officers involved was being examined by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. He also confirmed that guidance issued by the National Police Chiefs' Council relating to race was being reviewed in light of the case.
Asked whether he supported Conservative calls for a full misconduct investigation into the officers' actions, the prime minister said changes might be necessary and should not be ruled out.
Call for Political Restraint
However, Starmer stressed that political leaders should avoid exploiting the case.
"I think it's right that there may need to be changes and we shouldn't shy away from that," he said.
"But how we conduct ourselves now as politicians is really important."
The prime minister urged politicians of all parties to heed the wishes of Nowak's family, repeating their appeal for calm and warning against using the case to stoke further divisions.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 4 June 2026