UK PM says Musk 'trying to whip up division' over student's murder

Elon Musk has posted numerous times on X about the police response to the stabbing. (AP Photo: Leon Neal/Reuters: Toby Melville)

British PM Keir Starmer accused Elon Musk of "trying to whip up division" in Britain following anger over the police handling of the murder of Henry Nowak.

The teenager's death has spurred claims by activists and politicians that there is bias against white people in the justice system, after it emerged Mr Nowak was accused of racism and handcuffed while dying of stab wounds.

The tech boss has offered to fund a private prosecution against the police and separately a police watchdog will examine the case.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has accused US tech tycoon Elon Musk of "trying to whip up division" in the UK following anger over the police handling of the murder of a white student by a Sikh man.

Video of officers ignoring the pleas of a dying, innocent man has sparked a political storm about how police treat ‌different ethnicities.

The case of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, who was put in handcuffs by police as he lay mortally wounded after being stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, 23, in the southern city of Southampton in December, has become highly politicised in the UK.

Digwa lied and told police he was the victim as Mr Nowak had racially insulted him.

Far-right figures have seized on the murder as an example that police forces in Britain treat white people and ethnic minorities differently — an allegation Mr Starmer's Labour government and police chiefs vehemently deny.

Mr Musk, the billionaire owner of X, has posted numerous times on the platform about the police response to the stabbing.

In one, he asked whether people knew that "official police policy requires them to be racist against Whites?"

Elon Musk shared a video of the UK Home Secretary delivering a statement to the House of Commons. (X: Elon Musk)

Mr Musk has offered to fund a private prosecution against the police over its handling of the murder, and insulted the Hampshire Police force.

"We need to also assert who we are as a country, because 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," Mr Starmer told reporters.

"When we have a terrible case like Henry's case…, we react calmly, as his family have done," the prime minister added, referring to pleas from Mr Nowak's father that his son's murder should not be used "to create further division, hatred or tension".

Digwa was jailed for at least 21 years on Monday for stabbing Mr Nowak to death using a ceremonial knife w