Police are assessing videos of comments made by Bob Vylan and Kneecap at Glastonbury to decide whether any offences may have been committed.
Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, led crowds on the festival’s West Holts Stage in chants of: “Free, free Palestine” and: “Death, death to the IDF”, before a member of Irish rap trio Kneecap suggested fans “start a riot” outside his bandmate’s upcoming court appearance.
In a post on social media, Avon and Somerset Police said: “We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon.
“Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan’s performance, a government spokesperson said.
They added: “We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury.
“The Culture Secretary has spoken to the BBC Director General to seek an urgent explanation about what due diligence it carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance, and welcomes the decision not to re-broadcast it on BBC iPlayer.”
A BBC spokesperson said: “Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were deeply offensive. During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.”
During Kneecap’s set, band member Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, said: “The prime minister of your country, not mine, said he didn’t want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer”, after several politicians, including the prime minister, called for Kneecap to be removed from the line-up.
The prime minister isn’t the only figure who has called for Kneecap to be removed from the lineup after DJ and producer Toddla T revealed that a letter had been sent to the bookers of Glastonbury by music industry executives asking that the band were removed from the lineup.
The band also led crowds in chants of “Free Palestine”, with Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, commenting on the sheer number of flags at the festival.
O hAnnaidh, 27, wore a keffiyeh during the set, while member JJ O Dochartaigh, who performs under the name DJ Provai, wore his signature tri-coloured balaclava as well as a T-shirt that said: “We are all Palestine Action”, in reference to the soon-to-be banned campaign group.
The group, who hail from Belfast, have been in the headlines after O hAnnaidh was charged with a terror offence after it was alleged he displayed a Hezbollah flag and said “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, last November.
O hAnnaidh said of his comments that it was a joke as a part of the character he plays, Mo Chara, telling The Guardian: “S*** is thrown on stage all the time. If I’m supposed to know every f*****g thing that’s thrown on stage” - in reference to the Hezbollah flag - “I’d be in Mensa, Jesus Christ.”
Kneecap said they have “never supported” Hamas or Hezbollah, both of which are banned in the UK.
In response to footage of Bob Vylan, the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the scenes "grotesque", and wrote on X: "Glorifying violence against Jews isn't edgy. The West is playing with fire if we allow this sort of behaviour to go unchecked.
"The cultural establishment needs to wake up to the fact this isn't protest, it's incitement.
"Less than 2 years ago, hundreds were raped and murdered at a music festival. It's not just the act but the gormless people clapping along and cheering. People with no idea what real terror is.
"They don't understand the evil ideology they're amplifying - and they don't care."
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