Police say they are assessing videos of comments made by the groups Bob Vylan and Kneecap at the Glastonbury music festival to determine if any offences were committed that would require a criminal investigation.
Punk duo Bob Vylan led chants of "free, free Palestine" and "death, death to the IDF" — referring to Israel's military — during their set, which came just before Kneecap's performance.
UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director-general, seeking an urgent explanation about what due diligence the broadcaster carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance.
Police are reviewing videos of comments made by punk duo Bob Vylan during their Glastonbury performance. Source: PA / Yui Mok
The spokesperson added that during the livestream, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language.
During Bob Vylan's performance, rapper Bobby Vylan — one half of the duo alongside bandmate Bobbie Vylan — said: "I know we're on the BBC so we're not going to say anything crazy, alright?"
"But ... unfortunately, we have seen a strange reaction to people that come out and voice support for Palestine, even though anybody with any kind of moral compass can surely tell that what is happening in Gaza is a tragedy."
Irish trio Kneecap, who are vocal critics of Israel's military action in Gaza, also criticised Israel during their performance, accusing it of genocide, an allegation denied by Israel's government.
The Israeli embassy in the UK, in a social media post on X, said it was "deeply disturbed" by the chants.
Kneecap's Mo Chara (L) and Móglaí Bap (R) perform at the Glastonbury Festival. The Irish rap group has made headlines in recent months with their pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel stance. Source: EPA / Andy Rain
The Irish-language band have been in the headlines after rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying the flag of listed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig last year.
The Iran-backed Lebanese force is banned in the UK, and it is an offence to express support for them.
Chara has denied the charge and said the video featuring the flag has been taken out of context.
Asked whether he regretted waving it, and other comments caught on camera, Chara told the Guardian in an interview published Friday: "Why should I regret it? It was a joke — we're playing characters."
Fans say there are different views about the band's approach.
"It's actually vital that artists are free to speak their mind and speak their feelings without feeling like they are restricted and censored, otherwise the art isn't pure," according to a fan.
"I think they have obviously gone a bit close to the mark sometimes but if you are an Irish person living in Ireland you've lived a hundred years of oppression in Northern Ireland, so why can't you say what you feel is right?" another fan said.
Kneecap lead anti-Keir Starmer chant at Glastonbury
The band also took aim at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the performance at Saturday's festival, after Starmer had said their appearance was "not appropriate".
In front of thousands of fans, many waving Palestinian flags, Kneecap led the capacity crowd in chanting abuse about Starmer.
"The prime minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so f--- Keir Starmer," Chara told the crowd.
"Glastonbury, I'm a free man.
"This situation can be quite stressful but it's minimal compared to what the Palestinian people are [facing]," said Chara, wearing his trademark keffiyeh.
