Five protestors arrested outside Bob Vylan concert in London
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that five people were arrested outside Bob Vylan‘s concert at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London, on November 11th.
There were two separate protests that took place outside the venue before the show. One protest was against the duo by Stop The Hate, and the other was a counter-protest in support of Bob Vylan by the Palestine Coalition.
In a statement on X, the Metropolitan Police said: “The Officers have made five arrests during two protests outside the O2 Forum in Kentish Town this evening.”
They continued, “One man from the pro-Palestine protest was arrested in relation to chants referencing the IDF. One person from the Stop the Hate protest was arrested on suspicion of common assault following an altercation involving another protester.”
The Met added, “A further three people, two from the Stop the Hate protest and one from the pro-Palestine protest, were arrested on suspicion of breaching Public Order Act conditions. We continue to have officers in the area as the event concludes.”
A day before the concert, the Metropolitan Police announced that a Public Order Act would be in place ahead of the show in anticipation of protests which they hoped would “prevent serious disruption and serious disorder”
As a condition of the Public Order Act, both protests had to end by 9:30pm on November 11th. They also told protestors, “A protest by ‘Stop the Hate’ must take place in the blue area in Fortess Walk. A protest by the Palestine Coalition and other groups must take place in the orange area in Highgate Road.”
Bob Vylan recently rescheduled planned concerts in Manchester and Leeds, which they said was “due to political pressure from the likes of Bridget Phillipson and groups in the Northwest of England”. The two shows will now take place in February 2026.
On November 11th, Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that a man in his 30s had been voluntarily interviewed regarding Bob Vylan’s set at Glastonbury Festival in June, which remains under investigation.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.