Irish rap trio Kneecap have vowed to fight terrorism charges brought against one of their members, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara.
The 27-year-old from Belfast was charged under the name Liam O'Hanna for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a London concert last November.
The Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command launched an investigation after becoming aware of an online video from the event at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town on April 22 this year, leading to charges authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Ó hAnnaidh is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18 after being charged by postal requisition, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Kneecap are no strangers to expressing their political views
PA
The charge relates to an incident at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, on November 21 last year, where he allegedly displayed a flag in support of Hezbollah, which is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK.
Officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command began their investigation after being made aware of an online video from the event on April 22, which ultimately led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the charge.
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In a strongly worded statement released this morning, Kneecap denied the offence and promised to "vehemently defend" themselves against what they described as "political policing" and a "carnival of distraction".
"14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again, the British establishment is focused on us," the band said.
They claimed the charge was an attempt "to restrict our ability to travel" and "to silence voices of compassion", adding that they were being prosecuted "for displaying a flag thrown on stage".
"We are not the story. Genocide is," the statement continued.
The Belfast rap trio have faced previous controversies, with the Metropolitan Police earlier this month investigating them after videos allegedly showed the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting "up Hamas, up Hezbollah".
Several of their gigs have been cancelled following the emergence of this footage, although they are still scheduled to headline Friday's Wide Awake day festival in Brixton's Brockwell Park.
The group previously apologised to the families of murdered MPs but claimed footage of the incident had been "exploited and weaponised". They have also stated they have "never supported" Hamas or Hezbollah.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned from performing.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh is the member who's been charged
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Campaign Against Antisemitism, which reported Kneecap to counter-terrorism police, posted on X: "We are pleased to see the police have acted swiftly. Hamas and Hezbollah are both proscribed terrorist organisations in the UK. The law must be enforced."
In contrast, Sinn Féin MP for West Belfast Paul Maskey described the charge as "outrageous", writing: "Yet it's Kneecap, who are using their voice to expose this genocide, who face charges by British police."
Kneecap issued a strongly worded statement
PA
The band, formed in 2017, recently released an eponymous film starring Michael Fassbender which won six BAFTA nominations and four Irish Film and Television Academy awards.
Kneecap, comprising Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, are known for championing the Irish language through their provocative music.
