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UK police say no action against Bob Vylan duo over Israel army chant / Photo: © ANP/AFP
NYSE - LSE
UK police say no action against Bob Vylan duo over Israel army chant
British police said Tuesday they were taking no action against punk-rap duo Bob Vylan, who led a Glastonbury festival crowd in chants of "Death to the IDF" -- the Israeli military.
The musicians' exhortation -- made on June 28 at the open-air festival held in southwest England -- led to the BBC saying it would no longer live-broadcast musical performances deemed "high risk".
Prime Minister Keir Starmer had called the chant "appalling", and a German music venue that was to have hosted the duo months later cancelled their show.
The police responsible for the region covering Glastonbury said in a statement on Tuesday that, after reviewing the evidence, they concluded that Bob Vylan's act did not meet the threshold for a criminal prosecution.
"No further action will be taken on the basis there is insufficient evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction," they said.
The Avon and Somerset police service noted that Bob Vylan's chant "drew widespread anger" and "every potential criminal offence was thoroughly considered" before determining that prosecution was not viable.
Israel's embassy reacted with disappointment to the decision, saying on X that "vile calls for violence, repeated openly and without remorse, continue to fall on deaf ears".
It added that "failing to act only emboldens those who seek to harm Jews".
In a statement posted to their Instagram feed following their Glastonbury appearance, Bob Vylan said "we are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine."
A.Clark--SFF
