British authorities have announced that there will be no further action taken in response to remarks made about the Israeli military during a performance by punk duo Bob Vylan at the Glastonbury music festival in June. Avon and Somerset Police stated that the evidence did not meet the criteria for prosecution set by the Crown Prosecution Service.
During the performance, lead singer Bobby Vylan chanted “death, death to the IDF,” referencing the Israel Defence Forces’ activities in Gaza. The police determined that there was insufficient evidence to support a conviction.
The police conducted interviews with a man in his mid-30s and reached out to around 200 members of the public during their investigation. The on-stage comments received widespread criticism, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer denouncing them as “appalling hate speech,” along with the Israeli embassy in London. The BBC also faced backlash for streaming the performance.
Following the performance, Bobby Vylan took to social media to share that he had received both support and criticism for the chant. Avon and Somerset Police considered various factors, including the intent behind the words, the broader context, legal precedents, and freedom of speech issues before concluding the investigation.
The police emphasized that they thoroughly examined every potential criminal offense and sought advice to make an informed decision. They acknowledged the real-world impact of words and engaged with Jewish community groups throughout the process.
Earlier this year, British authorities had announced that comments made by Bob Vylan and Irish group Kneecap at the festival would be investigated. A prior terrorism charge against a Kneecap member related to displaying a Hezbollah flag was dismissed in September. Additionally, one member of Kneecap was prohibited from entering Canada earlier this year.