US Criticizes UK Policing Over Henry Nowak Death

The United States has issued a rare public criticism of British policing, describing "ideological conditioning and two-tiered policing" as symptoms of "civilizational decline." The statement from the U.S. State Department, posted on social media late Thursday, offered condolences to the family of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old student whose murder last year has become a flashpoint in a heated national debate.

Nowak, who was white, was stabbed to death in Southampton. His killer, a Sikh man later sentenced to life in prison, falsely accused Nowak of a racist attack during the incident. Recently released body camera footage showed police officers handcuffing Nowak as he lay dying from his wounds, while he pleaded that he had been stabbed and could not breathe. The footage has prompted widespread public anger and questions over why officers appeared to prioritize the assailant's allegation.

The case has been amplified by prominent figures including Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, and tech billionaire Elon Musk, who have both argued it demonstrates "two-tier policing" in Britain, where they claim ethnic minorities receive greater protection. Farage repeated the accusation...