GLASTONBURY, England: British police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after artists performing at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments on stage.
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made the comments in separate shows on the festival’s West Holts stage on Saturday (Jun 28). One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted “Death, death, to the IDF” in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday they were aware of remarks made on stage earlier in the day.
“Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation,” the police statement said.
Glastonbury Festival said it was “appalled” by the statements by Bob Vylan.
“Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence,” it said in a statement.
Kneecap’s management and Bob Vylan’s band members did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was “deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival”.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was “not appropriate” for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band’s frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
During Saturday’s performance, he accused Israel of committing war crimes, saying: “There’s no hiding it.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy contacted the BBC’s director general to seek an explanation on how the Bob Vylan show was broadcast, a government spokesperson said.
“We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury,” the spokesperson added.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made on stage, adding that he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
“I wish they’d take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously,” Streeting told Sky News.
