Talk host censures London crime amid Khan-Trump clash after car window smashed

A British talk-show host said his Maserati’s rear windscreen was smashed in a central London car park yesterday evening, and he used the moment on air to attack Mayor Sadiq Khan as Donald Trump criticized London from the United Nations, arguing the city is being ruined.

Graham, 65, said he discovered the damage when he returned to his car after work, finding the rear window shattered in a car park run by NCP with 24/7 security patrols. He posted a photo of the broken glass on X and recounted that the thieves did not immediately remove everything in the back, taking instead a “really old ski jacket” from around 1988 and leaving behind 11 bottles of wine in a box. He said the wine was not the target; rather, the thieves seemed interested in a specific item he kept in the trunk for dog walks. The incident occurred on the seventh floor of the facility, and Graham said the noise he heard was the moment he realized something was wrong.

'I had a case of wine in the back and I suddenly got to the barrier and I was like this noise is really weird. I looked in the rearview mirror and I’m like crikey. somebody smashed the back of the windscreen,' he said on his show Morning Glory. '11 bottles of wine in a box, they didn’t even take them, they didn’t take one bottle, they seemed to have only been interested in a really, really old ski jacket from about 1988 or something that I have in the back of the car to walk the dog.' He described the experience as a reminder of broader safety concerns in the capital.

Graham told viewers that he has long relied on this car park, which he has used for about six years, and that staff have previously told him about a man who targets cars in the network of nearby NCP car parks. He said police had been informed about the suspect but that no action followed. He added that he has observed other safety concerns in the area, including youths on the sixth floor smoking marijuana, which he described as creating a sense of living in a city with deteriorating conditions. Autoglass, the repair service he consulted, reportedly noted that a surge in similar break-ins was being reported by customers in London and Manchester.

Graham, who hosts the breakfast program Morning Glory on TalkTV, used the episode to renew his criticism of Sir Sadiq Khan, London’s mayor and the city’s first Muslim mayor, arguing London has become a “bereft city.” He told viewers that Khan speaks as though London is the most remarkable city in the world, but the reality on the streets suggests otherwise. 'It burns me when I see Sadiq Khan talking as if London is the most amazing city in the world. It bloody well should be, but it’s not well,' he said. He also pushed back against critics who argue crime statistics are overstated, contending that conditions in London have worsened over time and that the public should not be dismissed with excuses about crime rates.

The episode comes amid a broader national and international debate over crime in Europe’s capitals. Earlier this year, a report from the Policy Exchange highlighted knife offenses in London as a persistent problem, noting a significant rise over the past decade. The analysis found that knife crime has increased by about 86 percent in ten years, and that the West End experiences knife-related incidents at a rate exceeding much of the rest of the city. The study, titled Your Money or Your Life: London’s Knife Crime, Robbery and Street Theft Epidemic, also noted a relatively low crime-clearance rate, with a small fraction of robberies and thefts being solved last year. The author, ex-Scotland Yard detective chief inspector David Spencer, urged a crime-fighting first approach by the Metropolitan Police and city authorities.

Trump’s remarks in New York City on Tuesday amplified the political tension surrounding Khan. In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, the former president asserted that Europe faces security challenges and singled out London, calling Khan 'a terrible mayor' who has allowed the city to be invaded by crime and, in Trump’s words, to drift toward policies that could lead to Sharia law. He described London as having been changed, claiming that ‘they want to go to Sharia law’ and arguing that immigration and certain policy approaches threaten Western Europe if not addressed immediately. Trump’s comments were quickly echoed by some of his supporters in the U.S. and drew swift rebuttals from Khan’s office.

A Khan spokesperson responded that Khan would not dignify what they called 'appalling and bigoted comments' with a response. The mayor’s office also pointed to crime statistics showing that homicide rates in London are substantially lower than those in the United States—9.8 homicides per million population in London versus 68 per million in the United States—though they acknowledged ongoing concerns about street crime in some parts of the capital. The exchange underscored a broader political war of narratives surrounding urban safety, crime statistics, and the social and political implications of policies in major Western capitals.

The feud between Trump and Khan has roots that precede this week’s UN appearance, including earlier remarks by Trump that Khan was among 'the worst mayors in the world.' The two have sparred over policy and personality for months, with Khan defending London’s safety record while acknowledging challenges faced by residents and visitors. In London, officials emphasize that while violent crime remains lower than in some comparable global cities, non-violent street theft and antisocial behavior continue to concern residents and businesses alike. They point to ongoing policing strategies, community outreach efforts, and investment in street-level safety as part of a broader plan to reduce crime and improve perceptions of safety across the city.

As London and other world capitals navigate the complexities of crime, political rhetoric around safety remains highly polarized. The latest exchange—centered on a high-profile figure’s personal experience, a major political figure’s public critique, and competing narratives about how best to secure urban spaces—illustrates how crime remains a central, emotionally charged issue in contemporary political life. Officials and observers alike will be watching how the city responds in the weeks ahead, including any policy shifts, policing practices, or community initiatives designed to curb incidents like the one Graham described and to restore public confidence in the city’s safety.