{
  "id": 77507,
  "title": "Massive Attack band says Singapore police detained, questioned them after concert",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/massive-attack-band-says-singapore-police-detained-questioned-them",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-03T09:16:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-08-03-massive-attack-band-says-singapore-police-detained-questioned-them-after-concert/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "British trip-hop band Massive Attack announced that they were detained and questioned by Singapore police following a concert where two members raised a Palestinian flag. The incident occurred last Wednesday at a venue in Singapore. In a statement on Instagram, the band expressed their surprise and disappointment at being detained and questioned en masse. Several members had their hotel rooms searched and passports temporarily confiscated, as reported in the Instagram post. Police did not comment on the band's statement. The two band members who raised the flag were British nationals, Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall. Police claimed that the band's actions could potentially harm racial and religious harmony in Singapore, leading to warnings and a ban on re-entry for the two members. The band did not disclose which members were detained or whose belongings were searched. The Palestinian flag, recognized by 157 countries, is particularly sensitive in Singapore due to the country's Muslim population and the ongoing Gaza conflict. Despite the unexpected nature of the incident, the band emphasized the importance of defending universal human rights and freedom of expression.",
  "summary": "The British band Massive Attack said its members were detained by Singapore police and “isolated and separately questioned” after the two performers raised a Palestinian flag at their concert in the city-state last Wednesday.",
  "key_points": [
    "Singapore police detained Massive Attack after concert.",
    "Two band members raised Palestinian flag, leading to questioning.",
    "Members' passports confiscated, hotel rooms searched."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Massive Attack band says Singapore police detained, questioned them after concert",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/massive-attack-band-says-singapore-police-detained-questioned-them-77672",
        "published": "2026-08-03T08:45:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Massive Attack band says Singapore police detained, questioned them after concert",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/massive-attack-band-says-singapore-police-detained-questioned-them-77627",
        "published": "2026-08-03T08:46:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Massive Attack says members held after pro-Palestine display in Singapore",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/massive-attack-says-members-held-after-pro-palestine-display-in",
        "published": "2026-08-03T13:23:21.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}