Police give update after Bob Vylan singer chants ‘death to the IDF’ at Glastonbury

Police have given an update following Bob Vylan's performance at Glastonbury festival which proved controversial after a chant was started, with organisers calling the comments 'appalling'.

In the days running up to the festival, there had been much debate over which performances would be televised.

It is usual for not every stage and performance to be shown on the BBC, but many fans feared bands with a political leaning like Kneecap were going to be censored.

The frontman of punk-rap duo Bob Vylan, rapper Bobby Vylan, was performing on the West Holts stage on Saturday when the controversial incident happened when he made comments against Israel.

He was heard shouting 'free, free Palestine' to the crowd before beginning a chant: "Alright, but have you heard this one though? Death, death to the IDF."

The IDF is the Israel Defence Forces.

The band were performing in front of a message which stated: “United Nations have called it a genocide. The BBC calls it a ‘conflict'."

Local police have said they are 'aware of the comments made by acts' following complaints.

They have stated that 'video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation'.

The Israeli Embassy in the UK has shared a statement condemning the comments as 'deeply disturbing' and that 'it raises serious concerns about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence'.

They have also called for Glastonbury organisers, public leaders and artists to 'denounce this rhetoric and reject of all forms of hatred'.

Sir Keir Starmer has slammed their comments, stating: "There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech.

"I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence."

Bobby Vylan has responded with a lengthy statement, captioned 'I said what I said'.

He said his phone was 'inundated' with both 'support and hatred'.

Glastonbury officials have also condemned the chants, which they say 'crossed a line'.

Organisers said: “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."

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp posted on X saying it was 'clear' Bobby Vylan was 'inciting violence and hatred'.

He called for police to 'urgently investigate and prosecute the BBC' who he alleges 'appear to have also broken the law'.

"Our national broadcaster should not be transmitting hateful material designed to incite violence and conflict," he said.

During Kneecap's set, chants of 'F*** Keir Starmer' were heard, following the PM's comments that it was not 'appropriate' for the Irish act to perform.

Naoise O Caireallain, a.k.a Móglaí Bap, said: “The Prime Minister of your country, not mine, said he didn’t want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer.”

One of Kneecap's members, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs as Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offence last month.

He denied displaying a Hezbollah flag. Following the incident, many fans believed the BBC would not film Kneecap's set, but it was aired.

Mo Chara said it had been a 'stressful' few months but said it paled compared to 'what the Palestinian people are going through'.

UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting criticised the performances over the weekend as 'appalling'.

Speaking on Sky News on Sunday morning, he criticised the BBC for airing Kneecap and Bob Vylan's performances.

He said the BBC 'have got questions to answer' over the 'revolting' comments.

A BBC spokesperson called Vylan's comments 'deeply offensive'.

The performance has not been added to the BBC iPlayer to be watched again.