Police have dropped their criminal investigation into Irish rap trio Kneecap’s controversial Glastonbury performance, citing insufficient evidence to secure a conviction, whilst a parallel probe into punk-rap duo Bob Vylan remains active. The decision comes after Avon and Somerset Police consulted with the Crown Prosecution Service over comments made during Kneecap’s packed West Holts stage set on 28 June.
The force confirmed on Friday that it would take “no further action” against the Belfast-based group after investigating “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance”. Detective sources indicated the investigation centred on remarks about band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh’s upcoming terrorism charge hearing, during which bandmate Naoise Ó Cairealláin told the crowd they would “start a riot outside the courts“, before quickly clarifying: “No riots, just love and support.
Kneecap responded to the news by posting a redacted police email on Instagram, describing the investigation as “one element of the political policing intimidation attempt” that was now “over. The group accused authorities of conducting a public investigation into “fuck all” before quietly dropping the case via private correspondence.
Bob Vylan Investigation Continues
Whilst Kneecap celebrated their vindication, Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that “enquiries continue to be carried out in relation to separate comments made on stage during Bob Vylan’s performance. The London-based duo faces scrutiny over lead singer Bobby Vylan’s decision to lead festival-goers in chants of “death, death to the IDF” during their set immediately before Kneecap’s appearance.
The chants sparked immediate controversy, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemning the remarks as “appalling hate speech” with “no excuse. The BBC, which livestreamed the performance, later admitted it “should have pulled” the broadcast, describing the comments as “utterly unacceptable” and having “no place on our airwaves.
Glastonbury organisers issued a rare public rebuke, stating they were “appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan”, adding that the chants “very much crossed a line”. The festival emphasised there was “no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence”.
US Visas Revoked
The international ramifications for Bob Vylan extended beyond British shores when US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau announced the revocation of the duo’s American visas. Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” Landau declared, effectively cancelling the band’s planned autumn tour of the United States.
The visa revocation came after footage showed Bobby Vylan leading crowds in chants of “free, free Palestine” before escalating to the IDF chant. The performance also featured a backdrop displaying: “United Nations have called it a genocide. The BBC calls it a ‘conflict.’
Broadcasting regulator Ofcom expressed being “very concerned” about the BBC’s handling of the livestream, stating the corporation “clearly has questions to answer” about compliance with editorial guidelines. The incident prompted urgent discussions about risk assessment procedures for live festival broadcasts.
Kneecap’s Defiant Response
The Irish trio’s Glastonbury appearance had been controversial even before they took the stage, with the BBC deciding not to broadcast their set live due to concerns over potential inflammatory content. Band member Ó hAnnaidh, who performs as Mo Chara, faces terrorism charges for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London concert in November 2024.
During their festival set, Kneecap led the massive crowd in chants of “fuck Keir Starmer” after the Prime Minister had questioned whether their appearance was “appropriate. The group also expressed support for Palestine and referenced Ó hAnnaidh’s upcoming court date on 20 August, when he faces charges that could result in six months’ imprisonment.
“We played a historic set at Glastonbury. Whole area closed an hour before due to crowds. A celebration of love and solidarity,” the band stated on social media, dismissing what they termed “wildly misleading headlines” about their performance.
Political and Security Implications
The investigations highlighted tensions over freedom of expression at major cultural events, with police initially stating they had received “a large amount of contact in relation to these events from people across the world. The force acknowledged “the strength of public feeling” whilst attempting to determine whether criminal offences had been committed.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described the Bob Vylan incident as “appalling and unacceptable scenes at Glastonbury”, whilst the Israeli Embassy expressed being “deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage”. The Campaign Against Antisemitism announced plans to formally complain to the BBC over its broadcast decisions.
At Bob Vylan’s first performance following Glastonbury, a sold-out show at London’s 100 Club, Pascal Robinson-Foster (Bobby Vylan’s real name) quickly shut down audience attempts to revive the IDF chant. “No, no, no. You’re going to get me in trouble,” he said, before leading alternative chants of “free, free Palestine”.
BBC Under Scrutiny
The controversy exposed significant questions about the BBC’s editorial procedures for live broadcasts. Sources within the corporation revealed that Bob Vylan had been flagged as a “high risk” act prior to their performance, yet the decision was made to proceed with live coverage whilst Kneecap’s set was pre-recorded for later broadcast.
Adrian Hillman, assistant professor of communication at Northeastern University, noted that whilst “mistakes will be made” by an entity of the BBC’s size, the incident demonstrated that “regulatory and lawful environment are functioning well” with appropriate checks against extreme behaviour.
The BBC’s initial on-screen warning about “very strong and discriminatory language” proved insufficient, leading to the corporation’s admission that “with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance.
Ongoing Legal Matters
Kneecap’s legal troubles extend beyond the dropped Glastonbury investigation. Ó hAnnaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June, where hundreds of supporters gathered outside chanting “Free Mo Chara. He was released on unconditional bail pending his next hearing on 20 August.
The prosecution alleges that Ó hAnnaidh displayed a Hezbollah flag whilst shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” at the November concert. Both organisations are proscribed as terrorist groups under UK law. Kneecap maintains the footage was “deliberately taken out of all context” and vows to “vehemently defend” against the charges.
The band’s defence team has raised jurisdictional arguments, claiming the charges were brought outside the six-month statutory time limit for terrorism offences. If successful, this technicality could see the case dismissed entirely.
As the dust settles on one investigation whilst another continues, the Glastonbury 2025 controversy has reignited debates about artistic expression, political activism, and the boundaries of acceptable discourse at Britain’s most iconic music festival. For Kneecap, the dropped investigation represents a victory in what they frame as an ongoing battle against “political policing. For Bob Vylan, the continuing police probe and international visa ban signal that their Glastonbury moment may have lasting consequences beyond the festival fields.
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