Kneecap Speak Out After Band Member Is Charged With Terror Offence

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (known under the stage name Mo Chara) performing with Kneecap in Boston last yearKneecap performer Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – better known by his stage name Mo Chara – has been charged with a terror offence over an incident at one of the band’s shows last year.The West Belfast hip-hop trio found themselves at the centre of scrutiny last month, due to impassioned comments they made in support of Palestine during their set at Coachella.During their set, the group projected messages like “fuck Israel, free Palestine” onto the screens behind them, and led fans in a chant of “free Palestine”.Just days after this, it was first reported that counter-terrorism police officers were assessing a video in which the group reportedly declared “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” during a gig in London in November 2024.Per Sky News, both of these groups have been declared terrorist organisations in the UK, meaning it is illegal to voice support for them. It was also alleged that the rapper was seen displaying a flag in support of the terror group during the same Kneecap gig at the Kentish Town Forum last year.On Wednesday evening, it was confirmed that Ó hAnnaidh had been charged with a terror offence, for which he is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 18 June.Moglai Bap, left, and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)The band issued a statement on Instagram the following morning, which read: “We deny this ‘offence’ and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is.“As they profit from genocide, they use an ‘anti-terror law’ against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their ‘crown court’, instead a court that doesn’t have a jury.“What’s the objective? To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out.“Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification.”They concluded: “We stand proudly with the people. You stand complicit with the war criminals. We are on the right side of history. You are not. We will fight you in your court. We will win. Free Palestine.”View this post on InstagramA post shared by KNEECAP (@kneecap32)Following their Coachella performance, Kneecap claimed that they were the victims of a “coordinated smear campaign”.In a follow-up statement, they added: “They want you to believe words are more harmful than genocide. Establishment figures, desperate to silence us, have combed through hundreds of hours of footage and interviews, extracting a handful of words from months or years ago to manufacture moral hysteria.“Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay.”READ MORE:Kneecap Issue Fresh Statement Amid Backlash Over Resurfaced Alleged CommentsDowning Street Condemns Kneecap's 'Half-Hearted' Apology Over 'Kill MPs' RemarksKneecap React To Sharon Osbourne's Call To Revoke Their US Visas Over Coachella Set

Comments

Breaking news

Historic Glasgow office building put up for sale with price tag of £1million

The Herald

Comments

Similar News

Kneecap rapper charged with terror offence over ‘Hezbollah flag at London gig’

TRNSMT act Kneecap break silence after member Liam O’Hanna charged with terror offence

Kneecap member charged with terrorism offence over flag displayed at London gig

Kneecap's Liam O'Hanna is charged with terrorism offences after 'displaying a flag in support for Hezbollah'

Kneecap member charged with terror offence

Kneecap rapper Liam O’Hanna, 27, charged with terror offence after ‘displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah’

TRNSMT act Kneecap 'threaten legal action over bid to ban them from Glastonbury'

Gary Lineker is publicly backed by Muslim Council of Britain, Kneecap and his ex-wife after BBC axing but only one MOTD colleague

Now Kneecap threaten to sue industry critics who want them banned from Glastonbury

SNP councillors defy Swinney over Kneecap TRNSMT ban call

'Anti-British' rappers Kneecap will headline London festival next week - despite flood of gig cancellations and 'terror probe'

Resist calls to ban Kneecap from TRNSMT, says Glasgow councillor

Irish Rap Group Kneecap's Shows Canceled After 'F**k Israel' Sign at Coachella

Irish Rap Group Kneecap Faces More Cancellations After 'F**k Israel' Coachella Performance

'Shutting Kneecap down is an overreaction', says Dexys Midnight Runners' Kevin Rowland

They shouted 'Up Hamas' on stage, called for Tory MPs to be killed and championed the IRA - yet they're lionised by the BBC and were given £1.6m of public money... So why are Irish rappers Kneecap STILL set to play Glastonbury?

Counter-terror cops say probe into Kneecap was over rappers calling for ‘MPs to be killed’ in video clip

UK Terrorism Police Investigate Irish Rap Group 'Kneecap' Over Alleged Murder-Incitement

'Anti-British' rappers Kneecap who face terror probe for urging fans to 'kill your MP' have received nearly £2million in taxpayer cash - including £15,000 to hire a fake police car

Daughter of murdered MP praises 'swift action' of counter-terror police's Kneecap investigation

Breaking news

Historic Glasgow office building put up for sale with price tag of £1million

Woman’s offensive C-bomb bumper sticker almost landed her in jail

Inside UK benefits capital where jobless locals live off ‘PIP trips’ and vodka-swigging teens torch bins

Tragedy as walker ‘falls to death’ from ridge at peak of UK mountain in front of horrified members of public

Paedophiles and other sex criminals will be castrated in tough new crackdown to dull their twisted sexual urges

Britain’s cops are not equipped to fight fraud, damning new report reveals

Fury as Dunkirk Little Ships flotilla forced to change course in Channel to avoid migrant boat

Lamborghini-driving TikTok lawyer who represented Manchester Airport man kicked by cops charged with money laundering

Bizarre moment Trump plays ‘white genocide’ video as he schools President Ramaphosa in fiery White House meeting

Family of OAP sailor pay tribute to "lovely man" after body found at sea

New BBC Scotland documentary to tell personal stories of Lockerbie Air Disaster victims

Lay-by on major Dumfries and Galloway road to close for footway resurfacing

Unions confirm Dumfries and Galloway Scottish Water workers to stage seven day strike

Family of mum who died in Turkey left horrified by shocking autopsy findings

Five Jay Slater inquest shocks including cause of death, Rolex watch and 'missing' witnesses

Motherwell and Wishaw MSP to lead Holyrood debate on problem gambling and public health

Ex-Kilmarnock RAF cadet officer jailed again for abuse of boys

Extra cancer screenings for women with dense breasts could save 'hundreds of lives'

Net migration halves in UK, new data shows

Trump team will worry about Washington attacker being glorified

Israeli couple shot dead in Washington DC named - as attack condemned

Net migration in UK falls by half in boost to Prime Minister Keir Starmer

William and Kate to take part in HMS Glasgow naming ceremony

Police worker caught viewing secret files after messaging man linked to serious crime

Rapists and paedophiles could be chemically castrated in crackdown on offenders

House bursts into flames after LIGHTNING strike as thunderstorms sweep in – and Met Office warns of possible tornado

Do You Struggle with Insomnia? Take Action Today!

Jay Slater inquest's 'missing' witness Lucy Law is 'on holiday in Tenerife'

Free children’s gardening workshop at Dobbies’ Sandyholm store

Massive Scottish wildfire still burning after four days

Clyde Gateway unveils £500m vision to strengthen land in Rutherglen with plan for hotel and hundreds of homes

Crete earthquake sparks tsunami fears as tourists told to 'reach higher ground'

Bitcoin hits new high as investor appeal widens

Kim Jong Un calls warship launch accident a 'criminal act'

Judge temporarily bans UK from completing deal to hand over Chagos Islands

Businessman on the run suspected to be Argentina's most powerful new drug lord

Brit mum, 28, dies on holiday as devastated family get huge shock in her autopsy

Farmer discovers £3bn worth of gold buried in his land - but he won't keep a penny

Keir Starmer slapped with temporary ban on Chagos deal - hours before signing

Boy, 15, collapses while playing football and dies after doctor's fatal mistake

Jay Slater's friend sent him desperate 'go home' warning on the morning he died

Elon Musk showcases ‘biggest product ever’ Tesla Optimus robot doing household chores

Las Vegas gym shooting: Body cam captures moment police confront gunman

EasyJet records ‘slight improvement’ in half-year financial results

Pressure on Chancellor after Government borrowing jumps to £20.2bn

Trump falsely says South Africans fleeing ‘white genocide’ to Australia in chaotic meeting with Ramaphosa

Starmer blocked from completing Chagos Islands deal by High Court judge after last-minute injunction

UK court puts last-minute block on a deal to hand Chagos islands to Mauritius

What we know about the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC

Before the word ‘transgender’ existed, there was Bambi, the dazzling Parisian icon

AP PHOTOS: 2 staff members of Israeli embassy killed in shooting near Jewish museum in DC

UK politics live: Chemical castration considered for sex offenders as review reveals prison capacity crisis

Why Israeli politician’s ‘killing babies’ remark has sparked a domestic outcry

M&S website down as cyber attack disruption continues

Washington DC shooting latest: Suspect chanted ‘Free Palestine’ after two Israeli embassy staffers killed

Body recovered from water at Scottish Outlander beauty spot

Dictionary detailing origins of every Gaelic word secures share of £500,000