Criminal investigation launched into the Glastonbury sets of Kneecap and Bob Vylan
An official criminal investigation has been launched into the sets that Kneecap and Bob Vylan recently performed at Glastonbury Festival.
It was confirmed that Avon and Somerset Police, upon looking into the footage of both performances, decided to launch a further investigation into the acts.
“Video footage and audio from Bob Vylan and Kneecap’s performances at Glastonbury Festival on Saturday has been reviewed,” they said, “Following the completion of that assessment process we have decided further enquires are required and a criminal investigation is now being undertaken.”
The police confirmed that a detective had already been appointed to look into the case and that it has been logged on their database. “A senior detective has been appointed to lead this investigation,” they confirmed, “This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our enquiries are at an early stage.”
Comments that were met with particular hostility were those said by Bob Vylan during their set on the West Holts Stage on June 28th. Upon leading pro-Palestinian chants, Bobby Vylan, the punk duo’s vocalist, said, “Death to the IDF.”
Glastonbury were quick to condemn the comments made by Bob Vylan, as they released a statement on social media confirming they believed the duo “crossed a line.”
“We are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday,” the festival posted on social media. “Their chants very much crossed a line and 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.”
Bobby Vylan has doubled down on his comments, as he shared a post entitled “I said what I said.” Here, he highlighted the need for adults to speak up and set an example for the next generation.
“Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place,” he said. “As we grow older and our fire possibly starts to dim under the suffocation of adult life and all its responsibilities, it is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us.”
The police confirmed that they have already received a lot of information regarding these sets and that their investigation will be evidence-led. “We have received a large amount of contact in relation to these events from people across the world and recognise the strength of public feeling,” they said, “There is absolutely no place in society for hate.”
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