The Japan Times - Kneecap, Bob Vylan Glastonbury sets spark police probe and global criticism

Bob Vylan, a London-based duo which often tackles racism in its tracks, was slammed by international and British politicians after the group led the crowds in chants of "Death to the IDF" -- the Israeli military.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said after the show there was "no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech".

Avon and Somerset Police in southwest England said a "criminal investigation is now being undertaken" after reviewing "video footage and audio" of both Kneecap and Bob Vylan.

"The investigation will be evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes," police said in a statement.

The BBC apologised for not pulling the live stream of Bob Vylan's performance at the festival over the weekend.

"With hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance. We regret this did not happen," the broadcaster said.

It added that the "antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves".

Media watchdog Ofcom said it was "very concerned" and the BBC had questions to answer.

"We have been speaking to the BBC over the weekend and we are obtaining further information as a matter of urgency," it added.

Israel's deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel called for the public broadcaster to be investigated over the time it took for the video to be removed from the BBC's online streaming platform.

"I think that the latest (BBC) statement is absolutely pathetic," Haskel told Times Radio.

- 'Not welcome visitors' -

Controversy descended on this year's festival before it even began over the inclusion of Kneecap, one of whose members was recently charged under terror legislation.

During their show on Saturday, one Kneecap member also wore a T-shirt dedicated to the Palestine Action Group, which is about to be banned under UK terror laws.

The chants about Israel's military were led by Bob Vylan's frontman who goes by the stage name Bobby Vylan, and were broadcast live on the BBC.

Bob Vylan also chanted "free, free Palestine" and "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" -- an expression which some see as a call for Israel's destruction, but others say demands an end to Israeli occupation in Gaza and the West Bank.

The United States on Monday said it would revoke visas for Bob Vylan's members, ahead of its American tour dates scheduled later this year.

"Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country," Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau posted on X.

- 'Crossed a line' -

Causing a possible political headache for the UK, the Israel embassy issued a statement saying "it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".

US ambassador to the UK Warren Stephens slammed the chants as "anti-Semitic" and a "disgrace".

Glastonbury's organisers said the the comments had "very much crossed a line".

"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," the festival said in a statement.

Kneecap, which has made headlines in recent months with its pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel stance, also led crowds in chanting abuse against Prime Minister Starmer.

Starmer and other politicians had said the band should not perform after its member Liam O'Hanna, known by his stage name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence.

He appeared in court this month accused of having displayed a Hezbollah flag while saying "Up Hamas, Up Hezbollah" at a London concert last year.

The Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah and the Palestinian militants Hamas are banned in the UK, where it is an offence to express support for them.

T.Ikeda--JT