Venue apologises after alleged antisemitic imagery shown at Primal Scream gig

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.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson has said the video was "being assessed by officers". The band has been approached for comment.

As the group performed their 2000 song Swastika Eyes during the one-off gig, pictures of political figures played 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".

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 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.

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.