Venue apology in Primal Scream antisemitic image row

The Roundhouse music venue has apologised to fans after alleged antisemitic imagery was shown on stage during a Primal Scream concert in north London.

Managers of the venue in Camden said they "deeply regret" that the "highly offensive" graphics were displayed, adding that it was done entirely without their knowledge.

The rock band from Glasgow was reported to the police by the Community Security Trust (CST) after a video was screened on stage on Monday evening that appeared to show the Star of David entwined with a swastika.

In a post on Instagram on Friday, Primal Scream said the film was "a piece of art" although it did not state whether the post referred specifically to the same video.

The BBC has contacted Primal Scream for further comment.

The Met Police said it was contacted after the group performed their 2000 song Swastika Eyes during the one-off gig.

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

An image of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to show the Star of David combined with a swastika in his eyes.

The slogans "stop genocide" and "free Palestine" were shown on a large screen as well as the words "our government is complicit".

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the video was "being assessed by officers" to determine whether an offence had been committed.

'Against our values'

In a statement, a spokesperson for Roundhouse said they were "appalled" by the display.

"We deeply regret that these highly offensive images were presented on our stage and unequivocally apologise to anyone who attended the gig, and to the wider Jewish community.

"The content, which was used entirely without our knowledge, stands against all of our values."

The spokesperson went on to say the Roundhouse "condemns antisemitism in every form".

"Acts of hatred, discrimination or prejudice of any kind are entirely unacceptable and have no place in our community or spaces.

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

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

The band's Instagram post went on to say that an unspecified video "draws on history" to question the actions of current world governments.

"It is meant to provide debate, not hate.

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

The Community Security Trust (CST), which provides protection for Jewish communities in the UK, said it had reported the group to police and called on the venue to carry out an "urgent investigation".

In a statement, a CST spokesperson said: "Entwining a Star of David with a swastika implies that Jews are Nazis and risks encouraging hatred of Jews."

The CST added someone at the gig contacted them to complain and had also sent them video footage of the images shown on stage.

'Unadulterated hatred'

The charity Campaign Against Antisemitism said: "The Nazi swastika represents the ideology that inspired people to industrially slaughter six million innocent Jewish men, women and children by bullet, gas and any other means available.

"To visually combine that with the Star of David - the pre-eminent symbol of Judaism - is absolutely sickening and totally inexcusable."

The group said it believed the images were neither art or a political statement but "unadulterated hatred" and said its legal team was examining the footage to consider further steps.

A Met Police spokesperson said: "On Wednesday, 10 December we received a report in relation to a video shown on stage during a concert at the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm Road, Camden on Monday, 8 December. It is being assessed by officers."