Avon and Somerset Police have launched a criminal investigation into performances at Glastonbury by Bob Vylan and Kneecap.
The BBC reported that the force has tasked a senior detective to review footage to ascertain whether comments made by either of the bands amounted to a criminal offence.
In a statement, Avon and Somerset Police said: "This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our enquiries are at an early stage.
"The investigation will be evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes."
In a statement following the festival, the BBC said it should have cut away from a live broadcast of Bob Vylan's performance, during which the band's singer Bobby Vylan (Pascal Robinson-Foster) led a chant of "death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]".
"The team were dealing with a live situation but with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance,” said the BBC. “We regret this did not happen."
The broadcaster said it would look at its guidance around live events to ensure its teams are clear on when it is acceptable to keep output on air.
The organisers of Glastonbury said they were "appalled" by the comments on stage.
Broadcast regulator Ofcom said the BBC "clearly has questions to answer" over its coverage.
"We have been speaking to the BBC over the weekend and we are obtaining further information as a matter of urgency, including what procedures were in place to ensure compliance with its own editorial guidelines,” said a spokesperson.
Posting on Instagram on Sunday evening (June 29) under the caption “I said what I said”, Robinson-Foster told fans he had been "inundated" with messages of both "support and hatred" and also called for "a change in foreign policy".
Bandmate Bobbie Vylan released a video statement on social media on Monday (June 30), in which he said: "First it was kneecap, now it's us two. Regardless of how it was said, calling for an end to the slaughter of innocents is never wrong. To civilians of Israel, understand this anger is not directed at you, and don't let your government persuade you that a call against an army is a call against the people."
Police have not identified which section of Bob Vylan's or Kneecap's sets would be subject to the criminal investigation.
The Kneecap set was not shown live but is available on BBC iPlayer. While the Belfast trio are controversial and the video warns of ‘strong language’, it is not clear what part of their set would prompt an investigation.
PHOTO: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty
