The UK government has denounced comments by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who linked the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak to British immigration policies. Nowak was fatally stabbed in June 2026 in a suburb of London; a suspect has been arrested.
In a statement, a UK government spokesperson said: 'We strongly reject any attempt to exploit a tragic death for political purposes. Our thoughts are with Henry's family.' Vance had claimed the attack was 'a direct result of open borders'βa claim for which no evidence has been provided.
The suspect, a 19-year-old male, has been charged with murder and is due in court next month. Police have not disclosed his immigration status, and the investigation is ongoing.
This incident has reignited debate over knife crime in the UK, which has seen a rise in recent years, though overall homicide rates remain low by historical standards.
