A criminal investigation has been launched over performances by Bob Vylan and Kneecap at Glastonbury on Saturday, Avon and Somerset Police has said. The force said it had appointed a senior detective to investigate whether comments made by either act amounted to a criminal offence after reviewing footage. A statement continued: "This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our enquiries are at an early stage. "The investigation will be evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes." Police have not specified which part of Bob Vylan's or Kneecap's set would be subject to the criminal investigation. It comes after the BBC said it should have cut away from a live broadcast of Bob Vylan's performance, during which the band's singer Pascal Robinson-Foster, who performs under the name Bobby Vylan, led a chant of "death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]". Those comments drew criticism of both the English punk-rap duo and the BBC for its live coverage of their performance. The corporation said it would "look at our guidance around live events so we can be sure teams are clear on when it is acceptable to keep output on air", and labelled the remarks made during the performance antisemitic. Earlier, broadcast regulator Ofcom said the BBC "clearly has questions to answer" over its coverage, and the government questioned why the comments were aired live. The organisers of Glastonbury have previously said they were "appalled" by the comments, which "crossed a line". On Sunday, Robinson-Foster responded to the controversy on Instagram, writing "I said what I said" and a statement in defence of political activism, without addressing his on-stage comments in more detail. Since then, both members of Bob Vylan - who were due to embark on a tour of America later this year - have had their US visas revoked, it is understood. US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote on X: "Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country." Avon and Somerset Police also confirmed the criminal investigation would assess Kneecap's Glastonbury performance. The Irish-language rap band are known for making pro-Palestinian and political comments during their live performances and have attracted controversy in the past. Band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying the flag of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig. He has denied the charge. Although there was no live stream of Kneecap's performance, the BBC later uploaded a largely unedited version of the set to its Glastonbury highlights page on BBC iPlayer.
Police launch criminal investigation into Bob Vylan and Kneecap Glastonbury sets
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Police Investigate Bob Vylan and Kneecap Performances at Glastonbury for Potential Criminal Offenses"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
A criminal investigation has been initiated by Avon and Somerset Police regarding the performances of Bob Vylan and Kneecap at the Glastonbury Festival, which took place on Saturday. The police have assigned a senior detective to the case to determine whether any comments made during the performances could be classified as criminal offenses. The investigation is currently in its early stages, and the police have labeled it a public order incident. They emphasized that the investigation will be evidence-led and will take into account relevant legislation, particularly concerning hate crimes. However, specific details regarding which parts of the performances are under scrutiny have not been disclosed by the police.
The controversy primarily stems from remarks made by Bob Vylan's lead singer, Pascal Robinson-Foster, who led a chant during his set that included the phrase “death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces].” This statement has drawn significant backlash, prompting the BBC to acknowledge that it should have cut away from the live broadcast. The BBC labeled the remarks as antisemitic and stated that it will review its guidelines for live events to ensure appropriate decisions are made in the future. Meanwhile, the organizers of Glastonbury expressed their dismay over the comments, asserting that they crossed a line. Following the incident, both members of Bob Vylan faced repercussions, including the revocation of their US visas. The investigation will also examine Kneecap's performance, which has previously attracted scrutiny due to political content and associated controversies. In the wake of this situation, band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has faced legal issues in the past related to displaying symbols of proscribed organizations, although he has denied any wrongdoing. The implications of this inquiry may have lasting effects on both bands and their future performances.
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