British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said that Elon Musk should stop interfering in the case of Henry Nowak’s death. At the same time, accusations have been raised against the British authorities of applying double standards.
The British citizen of Polish descent was brutally stabbed in Southampton and was then wrongly accused of carrying out a racially motivated attack. As a result, instead of providing Henry Nowak with timely assistance, the authorities’ failure to act contributed to his death.
The young man’s death and the circumstances surrounding it have since become a flashpoint for protests across the United Kingdom.
Elon Musk has commented on the case on several occasions. Criticism has also appeared on the X account of the U.S. Department of State, which warned that Britain was operating under double standards of justice and an “ideological bias” indicative of “civilizational decline.”
London pushes back against Musk
“Elon Musk should stop involving himself in this case: it is complicated, but above all painful for the family,” said David Lammy, as quoted by Sky News.
He added that the student’s murder was “horrific” and that, as the father of two teenagers, he understood the pain experienced by Henry Nowak’s family.
“Let us not exploit this situation. The family has called for calm and for greater attention to the issue of knife crime. We should respect their wishes,” he appealed.
Lammy stressed that the conduct of the police officers involved is being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). He also noted that local police chiefs are reviewing guidance and recommendations concerning officers’ behavior in similar situations, while a coroner’s inquest into possible police failings is scheduled to begin in September.
“We live in a democratic country with a robust justice system. Of course, this case has caused significant public concern. It is therefore entirely right that investigations will now be carried out and the matter examined thoroughly,” the minister said.
Killer carried a ceremonial knife
Henry Nowak was killed in December of last year. The attacker, a 23-year-old Sikh man, stabbed the student with a ceremonial knife. He misled police by claiming that his actions were a response to racist abuse.
When officers arrived at the scene, they handcuffed the victim. Henry Nowak repeatedly told them that he had been stabbed. “I don’t think so, mate,” one officer replied.
In May, a court sentenced the killer, Vicrum Digwa, to life imprisonment. He will be eligible to apply for parole after serving 21 years.
Henry Nowak was born in London and spent his childhood in Grays, Essex. He was studying finance and accounting at the University of Southampton. His father is Polish.
Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that the teenager held dual British and Polish citizenship. “As a consequence of this fact, the British authorities treat him as a British citizen,” the ministry said in a statement.