POLICE are assessing videos of comments made by Bob Vylan and Kneecap at Glastonbury during their performances on Saturday.
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”.
It has been reported that police are looking into Kneecap’s performance after a member of the Irish rap trio 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, which was not aired by the BBC, band member Naoise O Caireallain, stage name Moglai Bap, led chants of “fuck Keir Starmer”.
He told the crowd: “The prime minister of your country, not mine, said he didn’t want us to play, so fuck Keir Starmer.”
Moglai Bap's comments come after several politicians, including the Prime Minister, called for Kneecap to be removed from the line-up.
The band also led crowds in chants of “Free Palestine”, with Liam Og O hAnnaidh, stage name Mo Chara, commenting on the sheer number of flags at the festival after the field where they played had to be closed following overcrowding concerns.
O hAnnaidh wore a keffiyeh during the hour-long set, while member JJ O Dochartaigh, stage name DJ Provai, wore his signature tricoloured balaclava along with a T-shirt that said: “We are all Palestine Action”, in reference to the soon-to-be banned campaign group.
The Belfast group made the headlines after O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” at a gig in November last year.
Last week, the rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts.
He was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20.
