Bob Vylan on stage during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset. Photo / Yui Mok, Getty Images
Bob Vylan on stage during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset. Photo / Yui Mok, Getty Images
Police have begun a criminal investigation into the rap duo Bob Vylan’s performance at the Glastonbury Festival.
Local police said the band’s performance at the festival had been recorded as a public order incident and said they would consider “all appropriate legislation” during its investigation, including hate-crime laws.
The Irishband Kneecap’s performance at the festival is also being examined by police.
A police spokesman said: “We have received a large amount of contact in relation to these events from people across the world, and recognise the strength of public feeling. There is absolutely no place in society for hate.
“We hope the work we have carried out, and are continuing to carry out, reassures the public how seriously we are treating Saturday’s events.
“We politely ask the public to refrain from continuing to report this matter to us because an investigation is already taking place.”
‘Legitimate concerns raised’
Clare Moody, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset, said she “understood the legitimate concerns raised and the potential impact of these performances”.
She said: “I want to be clear that any incitement to violence is not acceptable and will not be tolerated in Avon and Somerset.
“Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed to me that they are undertaking an investigation. It is important that the police follow operational procedures and investigate carefully and thoroughly, as they would in any reports of this kind.
“I want to reassure our Jewish communities that any concerns you have about your safety will be taken seriously by Avon and Somerset Police.”
The corporation has since apologised for airing the footage, saying: “With hindsight, we should have pulled the stream during the performance.” It said it regretted broadcasting Bob Vylan’s “utterly unacceptable” words, with the performance remaining available on iPlayer for more than five hours before being removed.
Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap of Kneecap during day four of Glastonbury festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton in Glastonbury. Photo / Getty Images
It is understood the BBC has been reported to police over the broadcast following speculation that it may have committed a criminal offence. BBC editorial guidelines state that material containing hate speech should not be included in output “unless it is justified by the context”.
“Broadcasting hate speech can constitute a criminal offence if it is intended or likely to stir up hatred relating to race, or intended to stir up hatred relating to religious belief,” the guidelines state.
Ofcom has also launched an investigation into the BBC’s decision to air the performance. The watchdog said the BBC “clearly has questions to answer”.
Sir Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister, condemned the chants as “appalling hate speech”, and Glastonbury’s organisers issued a statement saying that it had “crossed a line”.
Vylan led the crowd in the anti-IDF chants before Kneecap took to the stage, and also ranted about a Jewish record company boss for whom he had previously worked.
At the start of their set, Kneecap chanted “f*** Keir Starmer” after the Prime Minister had described their appearance at the festival as “not appropriate”.
Starmer’s comment came after band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who is known as Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence for holding a Hezbollah flag at a London gig in November last year.
Band banned from US
Unlike Bob Vylan’s performance, Kneecap’s set was not broadcast live, although an edited version was later uploaded to iPlayer.
Meanwhile, Bob Vylan have been banned from the US before a planned tour later this year because of “their hateful tirade at Glastonbury”, Christopher Landau, the US deputy secretary of state, has said.
The duo played at Coachella in California earlier this year but will be unable to return to the US. They were set to perform in Chicago, Brooklyn and Philadelphia in the autumn.
The band are due to perform at Radar Festival in Manchester on Saturday and Boardmasters, a surfing and music festival in Newquay, Cornwall, in August.
