Kneecap member Mo Chara – whose real name is Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh – has been charged with a terror offense, while the band has vowed to “vehemently defend ourselves”.
Kneecap star Mo Chara has been charged with a terror offense in the UK.
The 27-year-old Irish rapper – whose real name is Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh – has been accused by London’s Metropolitan police of “displaying a flag in support of proscribed organization Hezbollah” at O2 Forum gig in the UK capital city in November 2024.
Ó Hannaidh – who has been charged under the name Liam O’Hanna is set to appear in court on June 18.
In a statement on Instagram, Kneecap wrote: “We deny this ‘offense’ and will vehemently defend ourselves.
“This is political policing. This is 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.
“We are on the right side of history. You are not. We will fight you in court. We will win.”
The Metropolitan Police recently revealed they were assessing footage from the November 2024 gig, when the band allegedly said, “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah.”
Following the investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charge, with both Hamas and Hezbollah banned in the UK, while it is a crime to express support for either of them.
The group insisted they have never support either organisation.
They also claimed another video – in which they allegedly told a London crowd “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP” – was taken “out of context”.
They said in a previous statement: “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. We know this more than anyone, given our nation’s history.
“We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever.
“An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action.”
Kneecap rapper Mo Chara charged with terror offense
