Police launch criminal investigation into Bob Vylan and Kneecap sets

A prison investigation has been launched over performances by Bob Vylan and Kneecap at Glastonbury on Saturday, Avon and Somerset Police has mentioned.The power mentioned it had appointed a senior detective to research whether or not feedback made by both act amounted to a prison offence after reviewing footage.An announcement added: “This has been recorded as a public order incident presently whereas our enquiries are at an early stage.”Talking in Parliament on Monday after the announcement, Tradition Secretary Lisa Nandy referred to as the scenes broadcast “appalling and unacceptable”.Police haven’t specified which a part of Bob Vylan’s or Kneecap’s set can be topic to the prison investigation.It comes after the BBC mentioned it ought to have minimize away from a stay broadcast of Bob Vylan’s efficiency, throughout which the band’s singer Pascal Robinson-Foster, who performs below the title Bobby Vylan, led a chant of “dying, dying to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]”.These feedback drew criticism of each the English punk-rap duo and the BBC for its stay protection of their efficiency.The company mentioned it will “have a look at our steering round stay occasions so we will be positive groups are clear on when it’s acceptable to maintain output on air”, and labelled remarks made in the course of the efficiency antisemitic.Lisa Nandy informed MPs that she instantly referred to as the BBC’s director normal after the set was broadcast. She mentioned excellent questions stay, together with why the feed “wasn’t instantly minimize”, why it was broadcast stay “given the considerations relating to different acts within the weeks previous the pageant” and what due diligence had been executed forward of deciding to place Bob Vylan on TV. “When the rights and security of individuals and communities are in danger, and when the nationwide broadcaster fails to uphold its personal requirements, we are going to intervene,” she added, and mentioned she’s going to proceed to talk to the BBC within the coming days.Earlier, broadcast regulator Ofcom mentioned the BBC “clearly has inquiries to reply” over its protection, and the federal government questioned why the feedback have been aired stay.The organisers of Glastonbury have beforehand mentioned they have been “appalled” by the feedback, which “crossed a line”.On Sunday, Robinson-Foster responded to the controversy on Instagram, writing “I mentioned what I mentioned” and a press release in defence of political activism, with out addressing his on-stage feedback in additional element.Since then, each members of Bob Vylan – who have been as a consequence of embark on a tour of America later this yr – have had their US visas revoked, it’s understood.US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote on X: “Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred aren’t welcome guests to our nation.”In response, Bobby Vylan launched a video assertion on social media on Monday, the place he mentioned politicians needs to be “totally ashamed” about the place their “allegiances lie”. “First it was Kneecap, now it is us two,” he mentioned.”No matter the way it was mentioned, calling for an finish to the slaughter of innocents is rarely unsuitable. To civilians of Israel, perceive this anger just isn’t directed at you, and do not let your authorities persuade you {that a} name towards a military is a name towards the folks.”To Keir, Kemi and the remainder of you, I will get you at a later date.”Avon and Somerset Police additionally confirmed the prison investigation would assess Kneecap’s Glastonbury efficiency.The Irish-language rap band are recognized for making pro-Palestinian and political feedback throughout their stay performances and have attracted controversy previously.Band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs below the title Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying the flag of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig. He has denied the cost.Though there was no stay stream of Kneecap’s efficiency, the BBC later uploaded a largely unedited model of the set to its Glastonbury highlights web page on BBC iPlayer.