Police Investigate Chanting at Glastonbury Festival
LONDON — British police are looking into videos of a rap band that led chants against the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during the Glastonbury Festival on Saturday.
The group, known as Bob Vylan, got the crowd to shout phrases like “Free Palestine” and “Death to the IDF.” Police from Avon and Somerset are reviewing the footage to see if any laws were broken that would need a criminal investigation.
The Israeli Embassy in the UK expressed its dismay over the hateful rhetoric displayed on stage at the festival. Health Secretary Wes Streeting called the band’s actions "appalling," emphasizing that both the BBC and festival organizers should address how such inflammatory comments were broadcast live to millions of viewers.
In response, the UK government confirmed that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has been in discussions with the BBC’s director-general regarding the incident.
The BBC stated they issued a warning about “strong and discriminatory language” during the live broadcast.
Additionally, the festival featured another Irish rap group called Kneecap, which performed despite facing backlash from British politicians and a terrorism accusation against one of its members. Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who goes by the stage name Mo Chara, is facing legal issues related to supporting a banned organization after allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a previous concert.
Despite his legal troubles, Mo Chara remains free on unconditional bail before a court appearance in August. The group has faced criticism for their explicit lyrics and provocative political remarks, particularly after videos surfaced showing them shouting support for militants.
At Glastonbury, the band led chants such as “Free Palestine” and even dedicated some to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who remarked that it was “inappropriate” for Kneecap to perform at the festival.
With around 200,000 ticket holders attending, the Glastonbury Festival remains one of the UK’s most prestigious summer music events, showcasing nearly 4,000 artists across 120 stages.
