Glastonbury BBC shame as Bob Vylan leads crowds in horrendous anti-Israel chant

Rap punk act Bob Vylan have performed on stage at Glastonbury and led a crowd in chants of "Free, free Palestine" and "Death, death to the IDF" (Israel Defence Forces). The duo expressed solidarity with rap act, Kneecap, half an hour before that group's appearance on the West Holts stage.

During their appearance, Vylan addressed the BBC's decision not to show Kneecap's performance on live TV. Messages criticising the broadcaster appeared behind the duo throughout their set. Vylan said: "I know we are on the BBC and we aren't going to say anything crazy, we can leave that for them lads (Kneecap)."

But soon after, the frontman endorsed violent protest. He told the crowd: "We are the violent punks, because sometimes you gotta get your message across with violence because that is the only language some people speak, unfortunately."

Vylan accused the UK and US of being complicit in war crimes, describing the situation in Gaza as genocide. The set ended with the frontman leading the crowd in chants of "Free, free Palestine".

During their performance on Saturday (June 28) Kneecap led festival crowds in chants of "F*** Keir Starmer".

The group have been in the headlines after band member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence.

In the run-up to the festival at Worthy Farm, Somerset, several politicians called for Kneecap to be removed from the line-up and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said their performance would not be "appropriate".

Member Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, said: "The Prime Minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer."

O hAnnaidh, 27, wore a keffiyeh during the set, while member JJ O Dochartaigh, who performs under the name DJ Provai, wore his signature tri-coloured balaclava as well as a T-shirt that said: "We are all Palestine Action" in reference to the soon-to-be banned campaign group.

News broadcasts criticising the hip hop trio played from the sound system before they walked onto the stage were booed by the Glastonbury Festival audience.

Earlier on Saturday, the BBC confirmed they would not be live-streaming the set but said the performance is likely to be made available on-demand later.

It is understood the BBC needs to consider the performance before making a final decision. The band posted on Instagram: "The propaganda wing of the regime has just contacted us....

"They WILL put our set from Glastonbury today on the iPlayer later this evening for your viewing pleasure."

O hAnnaidh was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a gig in November last year.

The rapper appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18. He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing at the same court on August 20.