COPS are investigating after hip hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan led Glastonbury crowds in separate “free Palestine” chants.
Bob Vylan were streamed live on the BBC shouting with the crowds “Death, death, to the IDF” just before Kneecap took to the stage and led a “free Palestine” chant.
InstagramKneecap member JJ O Dochartaigh in a ‘We Are All Palestine Action’ t-shirt ahead of the band’s Glastonbury performance[/caption]
GettyNaoise O Caireallain and Liam Og O hAnnaidh of Kneecap during the Glastonbury set[/caption]
GettyKneecap fans holding up the same T-shirts prior to the performance[/caption]
Avon and Somerset Police posted on X: “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.”
Both Kneecap and Bob Vylan performed on the stage today and stirred up the crowds.
The BBC refused to stream Kneecap’s performance after a string of controversies.
While onstage, the hip hop trio also led five chants about the Prime Minister.
Many fans waved banners and wore face paint to support the band.
Video posted on X also heard the crowds chant along with Bobby Vylan, the singer and guitarist, and Bobbie Vylan, the drummer.
The pair use stage names to maintain their privacy.
The footage first hears the band members and crowds chant “Free free” before Bobby says: “Have you heard this one though?
“Death, death, to the IDF.”
The crowds then parroted the chant back at him.
It comes after Kneecap rapper JJ O Dochartaigh was seen in an X post wearing a top referring to the anti-Israel campaign group Palestine Action, amid British government plans to make it illegal to join the organisation.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has the power to proscribe any such group under the Terrorism Act of 2000 if she believes it is “concerned in terrorism”.
Festival organisers announced just prior to the band’s set at 4pm there was “no access” to West Holts – the stage where Kneecap performed – following warnings it may have to lock down part of the site due to surge fears.
It comes after the BBC confirmed it would not be broadcasting the Irish trio’s performance live following Sir Keir Starmer saying they should be banned from appearing altogether.
However, the set was streamed elsewhere on social media.
Terror charges
Kneecap frontman Liam Og O hAnnaidh was charged under the Terrorism Act last month after allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist group Hezbollah while saying “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” during a gig in Kentish Town, north London, in November.
A BBC spokesperson said today: “As the broadcast partner, the BBC is bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers.
“Whilst the BBC doesn’t ban artists, our plans ensure that our programming meets our editorial guidelines.
“We don’t always live stream every act from the main stages and look to make an on-demand version of Kneecap’s performance available on our digital platforms, alongside more than 90 other sets.”
The band themselves addressed a post on X to “a chairde Gael” – which means “Gaelic friends” – in which they said they’d been contacted by the “propaganda wing of the regime”.
The post added: “They WILL put our set from Glastonbury today on the I-player later this evening for your viewing pleasure.
“The crowd expected today is far greater than West Holts capacity so you’ll need to be very early to catch us father….VERY EARLY”.
A festival statement released earlier today warned: “Kneecap will draw a large audience for their 4pm West Holts show.
“If you’re not planning to see them, please plan alternative routes around that area.
“If you do plan to attend, listen to stewards, and please have some other entertainment options in mind in case the field reaches capacity and we need to close it as part of our crowd planning measures.”
Earlier this month Og O hAnnaidh – who also performs under the stage name Mo Chara – and bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and O Dochartaigh – were mobbed by hundreds of fans outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
He was released on unconditional bail – and is due at the same court on August 20 for the next hearing.
Politicians’ calls
The group’s much-anticipated appearance at Glastonbury had been criticised by PM Sir Keir Starmer and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.
Mr Starmer said this week it is “not appropriate” for the group to perform at the festival, which started on Wednesday.
Asked by The Sun on Sunday if he thinks Kneecap should play, the PM said: “No I don’t.
Shutterstock EditorialThe large crowd ahead of Kneecap’s performance[/caption]
GettyDJ Provaí during the performance[/caption]
GettyA balaclava on a pike in the crowd[/caption]
“I think we need to come down really clearly on this. I won’t say too much, because there’s a court case on, but I don’t think that’s appropriate.”
Ms Badenoch also said the BBC “should not be showing” the band’s set in a post on social media.
Her post said: “The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda.
“One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act.
“As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism.”
Avon and Somerset Police said: “Ticket-holders can once again expect to see uniformed officers on site at Glastonbury Festival 24/7 throughout the festival as part of our extensive policing operation ensuring it is safe for everyone attending, as well as those who live nearby.”
In response to the charge, Kneecap said in a previous social media post: “14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us…
“Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification.
“The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it.”
Hezbollah – founded in 1982 – is an Iran-backed Shiite militia.
The Lebanese terrorist organisation voiced support for the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 2023 before launching guided rockets and artillery shells at Israeli-occupied positions the following day.
Israel has retaliated with strikes on Gaza – and the conflict remains ongoing, with thousands of people, including civilian children, killed.
Despite the alleged comments, Kneecap has said they “do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah”, condemned all attacks on civilians, and alleged footage at the November gig was “deliberately taken out of all context” as part of a “coordinated smear campaign” over their criticism of “the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people”.
EPAOg O hAnnaidh sits in a taxi after he left Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 18[/caption]
GettyCalls have been made for O Caireallain, JJ O Dochartaigh and Og O hAnnaidh to be banned from Glastonbury[/caption]
GettySir Keir Starmer says it is ‘not appropriate’ for them to cash in at the festival[/caption]
AFPOg O hAnnaidh was mobbed by fans outside court earlier this month[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
