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Five people have been arrested outside of Bob Vylan‘s show at London Kentish Town Forum, one of which for allegedly chanting “death to the IDF”.
The news was shared by the Metropolitan Police on X/Twitter last night, confirming that five people were detained after rival protesters clashed outside the venue that the punk-rap duo were performing.
“One man from the pro-Palestine protest was arrested in relation to chants referencing the IDF,” the Met wrote, before adding: “One person from the Stop the Hate protest was arrested on suspicion of common assault following an altercation involving another protester.”
They continued: “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. We continue to have officers in the area as the event concludes.”
Officers have made five arrests during two protests outside the O2 Forum in Kentish Town this evening.
One man from the pro-Palestine protest was arrested in relation to chants referencing the IDF.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 11, 2025
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.
We continue to have officers in the area as the event concludes.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 11, 2025
Controversy around the band goes back to their slot at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, when they took to the West Holts Stage and delivered a divisive set which saw them voice their support for the people of Palestine, call out the Israeli military, criticise the BBC, and hit out at the UK and US governments.
In the most provocative moment of the set, Bobby Vylan led a chant of “death, death to the IDF” – leading to a criminal investigation from Avon and Somerset Police, the cancellation of multiple international shows, and the revocation of their US visas.
At the demonstrations outside their gig yesterday, The Standard reports that protesters from the advocacy group, Stop The Hate, gathered around 6:30pm to stand in opposition to the show, while counter-protestors from the Palestine Coalition showed up to share their support for the duo.
The outlet also shares that Stop The Hate claimed that there was widespread objection to the Kentish Town show from across the community, and 1,000 people allegedly wrote to the local council leader to share their concerns at Bob Vylan being allowed to perform.
After being dropped from numerous live events since their Glasto slot, Bobby Vylan recently gave his first in-depth interview about the controversy on The Louis Theroux Podcast. During the interview, the singer said he was “not regretful” of the remarks made at the festival and in the time since, regarding Palestine, and would “do it again tomorrow”.
The interview led to British Airways pulling its sponsorship of The Louis Theroux Podcast – a move which Bobby Vylan would then criticise as “a scare tactic”.
Make no mistake, this is a scare tactic. I went on the podcast and as hard as the lobby groups and media tried, they couldn’t twist anything I said. So they have resorted to lobbying for Louis’ sponsorship to be pulled in an attempt to scare others out of giving me a platform. https://t.co/lxmsX0aZlt
— Bob Vylan (@BobbyVylan) October 26, 2025
Since the festival appearances over this summer, Bob Vylan have had to reschedule their headline shows in Manchester and Leeds “due to political pressure” from MPs and Jewish leaders.
These were set to be the first two nights of their 2025 ‘We Won’t Go Quietly’ UK and Ireland tour, and originally scheduled for Leeds’ O2 Academy on November 4 and Manchester Academy on November 5. Now that the band have performed in London, dates continue in Bristol on Thursday November 20. Shows in Manchester and Leeds will now take place on February 5 and 7, respectively. Find any remaining tickets here.
Bob Vylan recently released their new single, ‘Sick Sad World’ – which sees them call out Prime Minister Keir Starmer and “the BBC’s lies“ – and also were awarded substantial damages following the publication of defamatory claims about a “Nazi salute” occurring at one of their gigs in October.
In other news about the band, it was reported this week that a man in his 30s was interviewed by police over comments made on stage during the divisive Bob Vylan Glasto set this summer.
The post Five people arrested outside of Bob Vylan’s London Kentish Town Forum gig – one for “death to the IDF” chants appeared first on NME.