Kneecap rapper charged with terrorism offence over alleged Hezbollah flag at London gig

Liam O’Hanna, who plays with the Irish rap trio Kneecap, has been charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly showing a flag in make stronger of Hezbollah at a gig in London, police mentioned.

The 27-year-old, of Belfast, used to be charged after an investigation by way of the Metropolitan police’s counter-terrorism command and is scheduled to look at Westminster magistrates courtroom on 18 June.

O’Hanna, who plays underneath the level identify Mo Chara, used to be charged with showing a flag on the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, on 21 November final yr “in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation”, the Met mentioned.

The drive added: “Officers from the Met’s counter-terrorism command were made aware on Tuesday 22 April of an online video from the event. An investigation was carried out, which led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the above charge.”

The counter terrorism web referral unit (CTIRU) is a countrywide unit based totally throughout the Met’s counter-terrorism command, which is devoted to figuring out terrorist and extremist subject matter on-line.

Both Hamas and Hezbollah are banned in the United Kingdom and this is a crime to specific make stronger for them.

Last month it emerged that photos of the Northern Irish rap trio allegedly calling for the dying of British MPs is being assessed by way of counter-terrorism police.

A Metropolitan police spokesperson mentioned on the time: “We were made aware of a video on 22 April, believed to be from an event in November 2024, and it has been referred to the counter-terrorism internet referral unit for assessment and to determine whether any further police investigation may be required.

“We have also been made aware of another video believed to be from an event in November 2023.”

Kneecap mentioned they have got by no means supported Hamas or Hezbollah and would now not incite violence towards somebody, including the video in query has been taken out of context.

Quite a lot of concert events that includes the band were referred to as off for the reason that movies emerged.