Venue apology in Primal Scream antisemitic image row

The Roundhouse music venue has apologized to fans after anti-Semitic images were allegedly shown on stage during a Primal Scream concert in north London.

Managers of the venue in Camden said they were “deeply sorry” that the “deeply disturbing” graphics were displayed, adding that it was done entirely without their knowledge.

The Glasgow rock band were reported to police by the Community Security Trust (CST) after a video showing the Star of David intertwined with a swastika was shown on stage on Monday evening.

In a post on Instagram on Friday, Primal Scream said the film was “a work of art” but did not specify whether the post was specifically referencing the same video.

The BBC has contacted Primal Scream for further comment.

The Met Police said they were contacted after the band performed their 2000 song Swastika Eyes during the one-off gig.

As they played, pictures of political figures appeared in the background.

A photo of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a Star of David and a swastika in his eyes has emerged.

The slogans “Stop the genocide” and “Liberate Palestine” as well as the phrases “Our government is complicit” were displayed on a large screen.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the video was “being assessed by officers” to determine whether an offense had been committed.

A spokesman for the Roundhouse said in a statement that they were “appalled” by the demonstration.

“We deeply regret that these deeply offensive images were presented on our stage and we publicly apologize to everyone who attended the show and the wider Jewish community.

“Content used completely without our knowledge is against all our values.”

The spokesman said the Roundhouse “condemns antisemitism in all its forms”.

“Any acts of hatred, discrimination or prejudice are completely unacceptable and have no place in our society or places.

“We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community and are committed to ensuring that our spaces are places where everyone feels safe, respected and valued.”

Primal Scream, founded in 1982 by frontman Bobby Gillespie, were performing their 25th anniversary show for their album XTRMNTR.

The group’s Instagram post said an unnamed video “draws on history” to question the actions of current world governments.

“This is to foster debate, not hatred.

“In a free, pluralistic and liberal society, freedom of expression is a right we choose to exercise.”

The Community Security Trust (CST), which provides protection to Jewish communities in the UK, said it had reported the group to the police and called on the district to conduct an “urgent investigation”.

A CST spokesman said in a statement: “Wrapping the Star of David with a swastika implies that Jews are Nazis and risks promoting hatred against Jews.”

CST added that someone from the concert contacted them to complain and also sent them video footage of the images shown on stage.

The Charity Against Antisemitism said: “The Nazi swastika represents the ideology that inspired people to industrially murder six million innocent Jewish men, women and children with bullets, gas and any other means possible.

“Combining this visually with the Star of David, the leading symbol of Judaism, is absolutely disgusting and completely inexcusable.”

The group said it believed the images were “pure hate” and not art or a political statement, and that its legal team was reviewing the images to take further action.

A Met Police spokesman said: “On Wednesday, December 10, we received a report regarding a video shown on stage during a concert at the Roundhouse on Chalk Farm Road, Camden, on Monday, December 8. This report is being considered by officers.”