No 10 hits out at those 'seeking to stir up division' after JD Vance blamed Henry Nowak's murder on migration

Downing Street has hit back after US vice president JD Vance called for "righteous anger" and blamed Henry Nowak's murder on migration.

Mr Vance made the comments on X after the US state department also commented on the case, saying "two-tiered policing" must be rejected in the West.

Now No 10 has accused people of "seeking to stir up division on our streets".

The US vice president claimed Mr Nowak, an 18-year-old student, would "still be alive today... if the last few generations of European elites had stood their ground against the politics of self-hatred and the mass invasion of migrants, many of whom despise the West and the people who love it".

"Henry was far from the first to so needlessly lose his life, and I fear he won't be the last," he added. "Each time a life like his is lost, the proper response - the only response - is righteous anger."

'Our politics should bring people together'

A Downing Street spokesperson responded: "In recent days we have seen people trying to interfere in our democracy and seeking to stir up division on our streets.

"The Nowak family are grieving after Henry's horrific murder. They have said they do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We should be respecting their wishes.

"Our politics should bring people together even in the most terrible of circumstances. That is who we are as a country."

Hampshire Police has faced allegations of "two-tier" policing following the release of bodycam footage showing Mr Nowak's dying moments after being stabbed.

Despite telling the officers about his injuries, he was placed into handcuffs after his murderer Vickrum Digwa falsely claimed he had been racist towards him. The footage led to violent protests near where the murder took place in Southampton.

Downing Street has rejected "any suggestion of two-tier policing across the United Kingdom".

Lammy rejects two-tier allegations

Responding to the US state department comments, deputy prime minister David Lammy said: "I don't recognise... this caricature of Britain having a two-tier criminal justice system. I just don't recognise that."

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Separately, US tech mogul Elon Musk has been posting on social media about the case, leading to Mr Lammy calling on him to "stay out" of the affair.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage clashed in the Commons earlier this week, after the Reform UK leader hit out at what he called "two-tier policing".

Digwa was given a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years in prison for stabbing Mr Nowak with a ceremonial knife with a 21cm blade, which he carried as part of his Sikh religion.

Speaking after Digwa was sentenced on Monday, Mr Nowak's father Mark said: "We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension."

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating Hampshire Police's response in Mr Nowak's case.

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