Irish-language rap group Kneecap have introduced a shock London present, hours after considered one of their members was charged with a terror offence.
Liam O’Hanna, or Liam Og O Hannaidh, was charged with displaying a flag in help of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation, at a live performance in London final November, the Metropolitan Police mentioned on Wednesday.
Simply hours later, Kneecap introduced on their Instagram account that “we’re back”, including that they’d carry out on the 100 Membership on Oxford Avenue, London, on Thursday night time.
The submit additionally included a quote by former Intercourse Pistols vocalist John Lydon, who informed ITV’s Good Morning Britain the rap trio “maybe (…) need a bloody good kneecapping” after footage of the band allegedly calling for the deaths of MPs emerged.
Picture:
Kneecap performing in Belfast final 12 months. Pic: PA
Kneecap apologised to the households of murdered MPs final month, however mentioned footage of the incident at their live performance had been “exploited and weaponised”, including that they “never supported” Hamas or Hezbollah.
The rappers had gigs cancelled after the footage emerged and politicians pushed for Kneecap to be dropped from the Glastonbury Competition line-up, with Tory chief Kemi Badenoch calling for Kneecap to be banned.
The group from Belfast in Northern Eire continues to be set to headline Broad Awake Competition in south London on Friday.
In response to O’Hanna being charged, Kneecap mentioned that they “deny this ‘offence’ and will vehemently defend ourselves” and branded it “political policing” in a bid to “silence voices of compassion”.
The cost got here after counter-terror police assessed a video mentioned to be from a Kneecap live performance.
Within the footage, O’Hanna is allegedly displaying a flag in help of Hezbollah on the O2 Discussion board in Kentish City, London, on 21 November final 12 months.
Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command have been made conscious of a video circulating on-line on 22 April and an investigation led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the cost, the drive mentioned.
O’Hanna – who performs underneath the stage identify Mo Chara – is because of seem at Westminster Magistrates’ Court docket on 18 June.
