British authorities announced on Tuesday that they would not pursue any legal action regarding remarks made about the Israeli military during a Bob Vylan performance at the Glastonbury music festival in June. Avon and Somerset Police stated that the evidence did not meet the required criminal threshold for prosecution as per the Crown Prosecution Service guidelines.
During the performance, lead singer Bobby Vylan chanted “death, death to the IDF,” referencing the Israel Defence Forces’ activities in Gaza. The police mentioned that there was insufficient evidence to support a conviction.
The police interviewed a man in his mid-30s and reached out to about 200 individuals during the investigation. The comments made on stage received criticism from various quarters, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled the chant as “appalling hate speech.” The Israeli embassy in London also expressed disapproval. Furthermore, the BBC faced criticism for not interrupting a live broadcast of the performance.
Following the event, Bobby Vylan shared on social media that he had received both support and backlash for the chant. He emphasized the importance of encouraging children to advocate for positive change in the world.
In their statement, Avon and Somerset Police emphasized that they considered the intent behind the remarks, the broader context, legal precedents, and freedom of speech before concluding the investigation. They acknowledged the real-world impact of words and confirmed their engagement with Jewish community organizations throughout the process.
Earlier in the year, British authorities had announced that comments made by Bob Vylan and the Irish group Kneecap at the festival would be investigated. Despite an initial terrorism charge against a Kneecap member being dismissed in September, one member of the group was barred from entering Canada earlier in the year.
