Kneecap will not face charges over their Glastonbury performance, but the investigation into Bob Vylan continues.
The local Avon and Somerset Police force said in the past few minutes: “Detectives sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service during their enquiries and after that advice, we have made the decision to take no further action on the grounds there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence.”
The force added that enquiries into Bob Vylan “continue to be carried out in relation to separate comments made on stage.”
Kneecap’s controversial set, which was not shown live on the BBC, included the Irish hip-hop trio chanting “Free Palestine” and “F**k Keir Starmer,” the latter being a reference to the UK Prime Minister.
Prior to Kneecap on the same stage, Bob Vylan’s set, which was shown live and remained on the BBC for hours, included chants of “Death to the IDF,” while the band complained about “working for a f***ing Zionist.”
Kneecap posted on Instagram an email the band’s lawyer received from Avon and Somerset Police’s Senior Investigating Officer saying they would not be charged, with a caption branding the investigation “political,” “targeted” and “state intimidation.”
“After the media damage is inflicted and seen by millions of eyes – you receive a private email to say there’s no evidence and no action – that is seen by two people only,” added the caption. “There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts.”
Kneecap’s Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, better known by his stage name Mo Chara, is currently bailed on a terror charge after displaying a Hezbollah flag at a gig. A separate investigation into the band for allegedly telling fans, “The only good Tory is a dead Tory…. kill your local MP,” at a gig have been dropped.
Kneecap were catapulted to indie darling stardom with the release of their BAFTA-winning semi-autobiographical movie starring Michael Fassbender last year.