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Fury as Glastonbury crowd chants ‘death to the IDF' during Bob Vylan set aired live on BBC

Fury as Glastonbury crowd chants ‘death to the IDF' during Bob Vylan set aired live on BBC

The Irish Sun18 hours ago

GLASTONBURY crowds chanted "Death to the IDF" and "Free Palestine" led by a punk duo at the festival.
English group Bob Vylan, based in London, were streamed live by the BBC and performed directly before controversial group Kneecap.
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Bob Vylan performing on the West Holts stage during the Glastonbury Festival
Credit: PA
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Bob Vylan on the barrier Glastonbury Festival
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Video posted on X 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."
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The crowds then parrot the chant back at him.
It comes after the Irish language rap trio Kneecap had a string of recent incidents including one of its members being charged with a terror offence.
Kneecap also shared an image of a "terror group" T-shirt before leading a Glastonbury crowd in another "free Palestine" chant.
Balaclava-clad rapper JJ O Dochartaigh was seen in an X post wearing the top, which refers to the anti-Israel campaign group Palestine Action, amid British government plans to make it illegal to join the organisation.
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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 -
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.
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Kneecap's Glastonbury performance ‘being assessed by police' after x-rated blast at PM and ‘riot' joke
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Kneecap's Glastonbury performance ‘being assessed by police' after x-rated blast at PM and ‘riot' joke

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UK police studying Glastonbury performances after anti-Israel chants
UK police studying Glastonbury performances after anti-Israel chants

RTÉ News​

timean hour ago

  • RTÉ News​

UK police studying Glastonbury performances after anti-Israel chants

British police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows. "We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late yesterday. Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces. "Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said. The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival". Prime Minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury. The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge. A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. "I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Mr Streeting told Sky News. "I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.

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