Bob Vylan led crowds in chants of "free, free Palestine" and "death, death to the IDF" at the English music festival Saturday.

LONDON (Reuters) -British police on Monday launched a criminal investigation into musician Bob Vylan and Irish rap band Kneecap's performances at Glastonbury music festival after they led derogatory chanting about the Israeli military and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

U.K. police announced Monday that the weekend performances by rap punk duo Bob Vylan and Irish-language band Kneecap at the Glastonbury Festival are subject to a criminal investigation after they led crowds in chants calling for “death” to the Israeli military and chants of “Free Palestine.

British police are reviewing video footage of rap punk duo Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury set after one of the artists led chants slammed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “appalling hate speech.”

As U.K. antisemitism hits record highs with 3,528 incidents in 2024, Jews say hate like Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury chant is ignored by leaders who still downplay threats to the community’s safety.

The BBC says it regrets not cutting off the Glastonbury festival live stream of punk-rap duo Bob Vylan's performance, which included an anti-Israel chant.