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 required criminal threshold for prosecution. The performance featured lead singer Bobby Vylan chanting “death, death to the IDF,” in reference to the Israel Defence Forces’ activities in Gaza. Despite widespread criticism, including from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Israeli embassy, the police found insufficient evidence for a realistic chance of conviction.
During the investigation, a man in his mid-30s was interviewed, and around 200 members of the public were contacted. Bobby Vylan, following the performance, acknowledged receiving both support and backlash for the chant, emphasizing the importance of teaching children to speak up for positive change. Avon and Somerset Police considered various factors, including the intent behind the words, wider context, case law, and freedom of speech issues before concluding the investigation.
The police highlighted the impact of words having real-world consequences and confirmed engagement with Jewish community groups throughout the process. Earlier in the year, both Bob Vylan and Irish group Kneecap faced potential criminal investigations for their statements at the festival. A previous terrorism charge against a Kneecap member related to displaying a Hezbollah flag was dismissed in September, and one member of the group was banned from entering Canada earlier this year.