Avon and Somerset Police have opened a criminal investigation into performances by music acts Bob Vylan and Kneecap at the Glastonbury Festival on Saturday, following concerns over potentially unlawful comments made during their sets.

In a statement released on Monday, the police said they had appointed a senior detective to lead the probe.

“This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our enquiries are at an early stage,” the force said. “The investigation will be evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes.”

The force did not clarify which specific moments from the performances are under scrutiny, though controversy erupted following Bob Vylan’s live set, during which the band’s frontman led a chant of “Death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces].”

The BBC, which broadcast the performance live, has faced backlash for failing to cut away during the segment. The corporation has since acknowledged the misstep, stating: “We should have cut away from a live broadcast of Bob Vylan’s performance.” It added that it would “look at our guidance around live events so we can be sure teams are clear on when it is acceptable to keep output on air.”

The UK’s media regulator, Ofcom, weighed in on the controversy, noting that the BBC “clearly has questions to answer” regarding its editorial decisions.

The UK government has also criticised the broadcaster, questioning how and why such comments were aired live without immediate editorial intervention.

Glastonbury organisers themselves issued a strong condemnation: “We were appalled by the comments, which crossed a line.”

Meanwhile, Irish-language rap group Kneecap is also under investigation, although the group’s set was not broadcast live. A largely unedited recording was later uploaded to BBC iPlayer under Glastonbury highlights. Kneecap are known for their pro-Palestinian and political commentary during performances and have been at the centre of several controversies in the past.

Band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, currently faces a terrorism charge for allegedly displaying the flag of Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organisation, during a previous gig. He has denied the charge.

As police continue reviewing footage and gathering evidence, it remains unclear whether any charges will be brought. The investigation marks one of the most serious official responses to artist statements at a major UK music festival in recent years.

Chioma Kalu

Follow us on: