British authorities have decided not to pursue 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 legal threshold for prosecution as outlined by the Crown Prosecution Service.
During the performance, lead singer Bobby Vylan chanted “death, death to the IDF,” referring to the Israel Defence Forces’ actions in Gaza. The police stated that there was not enough evidence for a realistic chance of conviction.
The police interviewed a man in his mid-30s and contacted around 200 members of the public during their investigation. The on-stage comments received criticism from various quarters, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled the chant as “appalling hate speech,” and the Israeli embassy in London. The BBC also faced backlash for streaming the performance.
Following the incident, Bobby Vylan shared on social media that he had received both support and backlash for the chant. Avon and Somerset Police considered factors such as intent, wider context, case law, and freedom of speech before concluding the investigation.
The police emphasized the importance of a thorough investigation and consulting with relevant groups, including the Jewish community. Earlier in the year, British authorities had announced that both Bob Vylan and Irish group Kneecap’s comments at the festival would be subject to criminal investigation. An earlier terrorism charge against a member of Kneecap was dismissed, and a member of the group was prohibited from entering Canada.