UK Police Close Bob Vylan Glastonbury Chants Probe

Avon and Somerset Police announced on Tuesday that they will take no further action in their investigation into chants led by the punk-rap duo Bob Vylan during a performance at the Glastonbury Festival in June, citing insufficient evidence to support a realistic prospect of conviction.

The incident occurred on June 28 at Worthy Farm in Somerset, England, where frontman Pascal Robinson-Foster, known onstage as Bobby Vylan, prompted the crowd to chant "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces. The performance was livestreamed by the BBC, which later apologized for broadcasting the remarks, stating they breached editorial guidelines after receiving complaints. The chants, made amid ongoing criticism of Israel's military actions in Gaza, drew immediate widespread backlash and prompted a criminal inquiry led by a senior detective.

Police conducted a thorough review, including a voluntary interview in November with a man in his mid-30s, understood to be Robinson-Foster, who was informed of the outcome on Tuesday. The force examined potential offenses, sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service on evidential requirements, and considered factors such as...