Kneecap Glastonbury set being investigated by police
Officers said they are determining whether any offences may have been committed
Police are reviewing footage of remarks made by Bob Vylan and Kneecap during their Glastonbury performances to determine if any laws have been broken.
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.”
The videos under scrutiny reportedly include those of punk pair Bob Vylan and Irish hip-hop group Kneecap, reports the Manchester Evening News.
This scrutiny follows a government statement expressing "strong condemnation" of Bob Vylan's comments. Bob Vylan stirred up the audience with chants of "Free, free Palestine" and "Death, death to the IDF" before Kneecap took the stage.
Kneecap's Moglai Bap, real name Naoise O Caireallain, openly criticised the Prime Minister during their set, stating: "The Prime Minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer."
The band also echoed the sentiment with their own "Free Palestine" chants, before suggesting fans “start a riot” outside one member of the band’s upcoming court appearance.
Kneecap, who hail from Belfast, have been in the headlines after member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence.
In reference to his bandmate’s upcoming court date, Moglai Bap said they would “start a riot outside the courts”, before clarifying: “No riots just love and support, and support for Palestine.”
In the run-up to the festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, several politicians called for Kneecap to be removed from the line-up and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said their performance would not be “appropriate”.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC Director General about the 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.”
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