Kneecap band member Liam O’Hanna has been charged with a terror offense by London police after he allegedly waved a Hezbollah flag onstage, based on the BBC.
The cost comes about six months after the alleged incident, throughout which the 27-year-old Irish musician — whose stage identify is Mo Chara — is alleged to have displayed the flag throughout his band’s gig on the O2 Discussion board on Nov. 21, 2024. The London Metropolitan Police solely realized of the alleged offense in April, when a video of the live performance surfaced on-line.
Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese Shia militia that america has designated a Overseas Terrorist Group, is banned within the U.Ok., with the BBC reporting that it’s unlawful to specific assist for the group. The identical goes for Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist group that Hezbollah has backed amid the previous’s ongoing battle with Israel.
O’Hanna is reportedly on account of seem at Westminster Magistrates’ Court docket on June 18.
The replace is simply the digital streaming improvement in a sequence of controversies for Kneecap, which made headlines in April for ending its Coachella set with the next message displayed onscreen: “Israel is committing genocide in opposition to the Palestinian folks. It’s being enabled by the U.S. authorities who arm and fund Israel regardless of their conflict crimes. F— Israel; free Palestine.”
Whereas some criticized the Coachella message, some fellow musicians — together with Large Assault, Pulp and Fontaines D.C. — expressed support for the group in an open letter. The Belfast trio has been one of the vital outspoken voices within the music world in supporting Palestine amid Israel’s conflict on Hamas, which started Oct. 7, 2023, when the terrorist group killed 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped 250 extra. Greater than 53,000 Palestinians have since died within the violence, based on The Associated Press.
Kneecap once more drew criticism when footage of the group allegedly calling for the deaths of British MPs (members of parliament) in 2023 resurfaced on-line in April, shortly after London authorities introduced that they have been assessing a video taken of a band member showing to say “up Hamas, up Hezbollah.” Round that point, Kneecap released a statement: “Allow us to be unequivocal: we don’t, and have by no means, supported Hamas or Hezbollah,” the band wrote. “We condemn all assaults on civilians, at all times. It’s by no means okay. We all know this greater than anybody, given our nation’s historical past. We additionally reject any suggestion that we’d search to incite violence in opposition to any MP or particular person. Ever. An extract of footage, intentionally taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it have been a name to motion.”
“We additionally reject any suggestion that we’d search to incite violence in opposition to any MP or particular person,” it continued. “Ever. An extract of footage, intentionally taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it have been a name to motion.”