PUNK duo Bob Vylan have said they are taking legal action against the BBC following the fallout from chants of "death to the IDF" at their Glastonbury set last year.
The duo was investigated by police after frontman Bobby Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, led the chants against the Israel Defense Forces during their BBC livestreamed performance at the Worthy Farm festival in June.
However, detectives from Avon and Somerset Police decided to drop the probe into the chants by the group in December, concluding that no further action would be taken.
Days after Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury performance, the BBC said the chants were “antisemitic” and that “in hindsight” those in charge of covering the set should have pulled the stream during the performance.
“We regret this did not happen,” the BBC said in a statement.
Adding: “The BBC respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence.
“The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves. We welcome Glastonbury’s condemnation of the performance.”
The BBC added that they had not made Bob Vylan’s performance available on iPlayer.
Bob Vylan confirmed on Friday that they are taking legal action against the broadcaster, claiming it has tried to “silence those that oppose the heinous crimes taking place in Palestine”.
The statement posted on Instagram read: “The BBC wasted no time in placing labels upon us that did not, do not, and never will fit.
“As a corporation that receives the majority of its funding from the public, it has disappointingly continued to prove how little it represents the interests of the people and our access to unbiased news and information.
“The BBC have attempted to silence those that oppose the heinous crimes taking place in Palestine, instead labelling them as antisemitic, editing their speeches, removing their content, and even blocking the release of documentaries that challenge the desired narrative of the BBC and its top brass.”
The statement from the duo added that the responses by the BBC were “unacceptable”.
It concluded: “So seeing the opportunity to remind them the power of the people that they are attempting to silence, we had no choice but to take on this fight. In fact, we take great pleasure in serving them that reminder in court.
“Free Palestine and Justice for the Filton 25.”
It comes following reports the duo have launched separate legal proceedings against the BBC in the High Court in Ireland.
It has been reported that the members will be represented by the same Belfast-based solicitor that represented Kneecap in their successful legal challenge against the UK Government.
The duo, formed in Ipswich in 2017, faced claims of “hate speech” following last year’s performance at Glastonbury.
In a statement, Avon and Somerset Police said: “We have concluded, after reviewing all the evidence, that it does not meet the criminal threshold outlined by the CPS for any person to be prosecuted.
“No further action will be taken on the basis there is insufficient evidential [sic] for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction.”
The force said it conducted a voluntary interview with a man in his mid-30s in November over the incident.
A spokesperson for the BBC said the broadcaster does "not intend to comment on ongoing legal proceedings”.
