Irish Rappers Kneecap Deny Hezbollah Support after Terror Charge
Irish rappers Kneecap on Thursday denied supporting a proscribed group and vowed to "vehemently defend ourselves" after a member of the band was charged with a terror offence for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London concert.
"We deny this 'offense' and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction," the band said on X, according to AFP.
Liam O'Hanna, 27, known by his stage name Mo Chara, was on Wednesday charged with showing support for a proscribed group during a performance on November 21.
London's Metropolitan Police said officers from its Counter Terrorism Command launched an investigation after a video of the event surfaced online in April.
In its statement, Kneecap attacked the "establishment" for trying to focus attention elsewhere while the population of Gaza suffered, and accused Israel of committing genocide.
"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".
The charge follows growing scrutiny of Kneecap's performances after footage circulated online showing provocative political statements made by the band on stage.
One video appeared to show a band member shouting: "Up Hamas, up Hezbollah."
Those groups, in Gaza and in Lebanon, are banned as terror organizations in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them.
The band, known for its confrontational style and Irish nationalist messaging, has denied supporting violence or banned groups.
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