The Trump administration has slammed what it calls “two-tiered policing” in the UK after the shocking murder of teenager Henry Nowak.
Henry Nowak, 18, was fatally stabbed in Southampton in December by Vickrum Digwa, 23, before being handcuffed by police as he lay dying in the street.
Following the release of the footage, Hampshire Constabulary apologised to Mr Nowak’s family for the distress caused by the officers’ actions, acknowledging mistakes were made in the handling of the incident.
The force said officers had arrived at a chaotic scene and initially believed Mr Nowak may have been involved in the disorder before the true extent of his injuries became clear.
In a statement released on social media, the US State Department expressed condolences to Mr Nowak’s family while launching a scathing attack on Britain’s authorities.
“Ideological conditioning and two-tiered policing are glaring symptoms of civilisational decline,” the statement read. “They must be rejected across the West.”
“The United States sends our condolences to the family of Henry Nowak and the people of the United Kingdom at this troubling time.”
The intervention comes after the release of disturbing police bodycam footage showing officers initially treating Nowak as a suspect despite his repeated pleas that he had been stabbed.
In the footage, the teenager can be heard telling officers he could not breathe after suffering the fatal wound. One officer responded: “I don’t think you have, mate,” before Nowak was placed in handcuffs.
Digwa, who stabbed the teenager with a ceremonial Sikh dagger known as a kirpan,was sentenced to life imprisonment for the killing on Monday.
Protests have erupted in the UK over the murder, with hordes of activists taking to the streets demanding justice for Nowak.
Nowak’s family were invited to meet the Prime Minister at Downing Street on Thursday.