Police advised the family of a woman killed by an asylum seeker to moderate their public remarks to prevent potential anti-immigration unrest, according to statements from the victim’s mother.

Rhiannon Whyte, a 27-year-old hotel worker, was fatally stabbed 23 times with a screwdriver at a train station by Deng Majek, a 28-year-old Sudanese national. Majek had been staying at the Park Inn Hotel in Bescot, Walsall, where Whyte was employed; the hotel was serving as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers. Majek was sentenced to 29 years in prison in January.

The incident occurred two months after a separate attack in Southport in July 2024, when three young girls were stabbed to death by 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, a British citizen of Rwandan descent. Rudakubana’s assault was followed by anti-migrant riots, which were reportedly fueled by misinformation that he was a recent Muslim asylum seeker who had arrived on a small boat.

Following Whyte’s death, her mother, Siobhan Whyte, said police cautioned the family against making statements that might incite violence. She recalled police expressing concern about avoiding “another Southport” scenario when she informed them that her daughter’s life support would be withdrawn. While she denied being explicitly told what to say, she acknowledged that officers encouraged less aggressive public comments. “I was aggressive – they toned it down,” she said.

Ms. Whyte also expressed her belief that law enforcement took such measures to avert potential rioting, adding that she was grateful for the support they provided after her daughter’s death. She noted that migrants housed at the Park Inn were relocated within two hours of the announcement to turn off Rhiannon’s life support, suggesting that authorities acted swiftly due to fears of violence.

This episode sheds light on broader concerns regarding public order following violent incidents involving asylum seekers or ethnic minorities. It coincides with recent disclosures about the government’s Research, Information and Communications Unit, which reportedly aims to shape public sentiment around issues of multiculturalism by managing narratives after racially charged crimes or terrorist attacks.

After Majek’s sentencing, Siobhan Whyte disclosed that he had arrived in the UK on a small boat just three months prior to the attack. She also criticized political leadership, stating, “The Prime Minister’s got blood on his hands.” No official response to her remarks has been documented.