Protesters arrested outside Bob Vylan gig venue as 'death to the IDF' chanted in PM's London constituency

"Five people have been arrested after rival protesters clashed outside a Bob Vylan gig in north London. The Met Police said that the arrests were made after two protests took place outside the O2 Forum in Kentish Town on Tuesday night. The punk duo sparked controversy at Glastonbury this summer after frontman Bobby Vylan (real name Pascal Robinson-Foster) led the crowd in a chant of Death, death to the IDF referring to Israel's Defence Forces during their West Holts Stage set."

"The Met Police confirmed that a pro-Palestine protester was arrested in relation to chants referencing the IDF outside the venue, which is in Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's Holborn and St Pancras constituency. Another protester from the Stop the Hate demonstration was also arrested on suspicion of common assault following an altercation involving another protester. A further three people, two from the Stop the Hate protest and one from the pro-Palestine protest, were arrested on suspicion of breaching Public Order Act conditions, the Met added."

"Protesters from the Stop The Hate advocacy group began to gather outside the O2 Forum at 6.30pm on Tuesday to oppose the gig, while counter-protesters from the Palestine Coalition assembled in support of the musicians. The performance sparked outrage from critics, including MPs and community groups, while the BBC came under fire for failing to halt its livestream of the gig. The Stop the Hate advocacy group had claimed there had been widespread community objection to the Bob Vylan gig in Kentish Town."

Five people were arrested after rival protesters clashed outside the O2 Forum in Kentish Town during a Bob Vylan gig. The arrests followed two simultaneous demonstrations: a Stop the Hate protest opposing the performance and a pro-Palestine counter-protest supporting the musicians. Met Police said arrests included a pro-Palestine protester for chants referencing the IDF, one person for suspected common assault, and three for alleged breaches of Public Order Act conditions. The gig drew controversy after the frontman led a chant referencing the IDF at Glastonbury. Organisers dropped the duo from festivals, revoked visas, and postponed some shows.

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