The Scottish rock group Primal Scream has defended displaying an image of a swastika inside a Star of David during a London gig, in response to accusations of racism and antisemitism.

During a performance at the London’s Roundhouse, a video was shown on stage of a swastika in the centre of a Star of David that was then superimposed over eyes of images of political figures, including the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the US president, Donald Trump.

The film was projected behind the band as they performed the song Swastika Eyes.

Images of the destruction in Gaza were also shown on screen. The video concluded with the words: “Our government is complicit in genocide.”

The Roundhouse said it was appalled by the video, which it said had been done without its knowledge. The incident was also reported to police by the Community Security Trust (CST) which offers security, advice and training to protect British Jews.

On Friday, Primal Scream, in a post on its Instagram account, defended the video, saying: “The film is a piece of art. It clearly draws from history to question where the actions of current world governments sit in that context.”

It added: “It is meant to provoke debate, not hate. In a free, pluralistic and liberal society freedom of expression is a right which we choose to exercise.”

Some people that attended the gig accused Primal Scream of racism. The Roundhouse issued an unequivocal apology to those individuals and to the wider Jewish community.

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

A CST spokesperson said: “Entwining a Star of David with a swastika implies that Jews are Nazis and risks encouraging hatred of Jews. There needs to be an urgent investigation by the venue and the promoter about how this happened, and we have reported this to the police.”

The Creative Community for Peace, a pro-Israel advocacy group that campaigns against antisemitism in the entertainment industry, described the display as “an act of profound malice, desecration, and cruelty”.

It said: “The Star of David is a sacred symbol of Jewish identity; the swastika is the emblem of a genocidal regime responsible for the murder of 6 million Jews. To merge these two symbols is an act of profound malice, desecration, and cruelty. It is antisemitism in its starkest form.”