Kneecap cleared in Glastonbury set probe

British police will not take any action against Irish rap group Kneecap following an investigation into comments made by its members during a performance at the Glastonbury music festival last month, reports Reuters.

The force had launched a criminal investigation into gigs by Kneecap as well as punk-rap duo Bob Vylan, which took place one after another at Glastonbury's West Holts stage on day four of the June 25-29 festival.

In May, a member of Kneecap was charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag of Hezbollah, a group proscribed as a terrorist organisation in Britain. He denies the offence.

At Glastonbury, the Belfast-based group led chanting against Prime Minister Keir Starmer while Bob Vylan's set included chants of "death to the IDF," a reference to the Israeli military.

Avon and Somerset Police said in a statement on Friday that they decided to drop the investigation after consulting the Crown Prosecution Service. "After that advice, we have made the decision to take no further action on the grounds that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence," their statement said.

Police said enquiries were still ongoing over the Bob Vylan set.

In a measured yet very bold and clear response on social media, the punk duo explained that their position was not about the death of any group of people, but rather the dismantling of what they described as "a violent military machine."

"We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs, or any other race or group of people," Bob Vylan wrote, emphasising that they oppose the actions of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), which they claim uses excessive force against innocent civilians. The band explained their use of the term "dismantling" rather than "death" when referring to the IDF, highlighting their focus on the military's role in the ongoing destruction in Gaza.