Kneecap star charged with terror offence over hezbollah flag at gig

Liam O'Hanna, who performs as part of controversial rap trio Kneecap, has been charged with a terrorism offence, according to the Metropolitan Police. O'Hanna, or Liam Og O

Hannaidh, was charged with displaying a flag in support of terrorist group Hezbollah. Hailing from Belfast, the 27-year-old is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June

18. It comes after counter terror police assessed a clip reported to be from a Kneecap concert. The charge relates to a flag that O'Hanna, who performs under the alias Mo Chara,

allegedly displayed at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London, last year on 21 November. Last month the Irish rap outfit were dropped from their slated appearance at the Eden Project's

illustrious Eden Sessions music extravaganza this July amid a swirling controversy. A representative for the summer event said: "Eden Sessions Limited announced today that the Kneecap

show at Eden Project scheduled for July 4 2025 has been cancelled. Ticket purchasers will be contacted directly and will be fully refunded." The Met said it would investigate videos

allegedly showing a band member saying: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory" and "Kill your local MP" and shouting "up Hamas, up Hezbollah". One Kneecap member

has been quoted as saying: "We're still under British occupation in Ireland. We still have old men in London making decisions that affect my life in Ireland." A Metropolitan

Police spokesperson said at the time: "We were made aware of a video on 22 April, believed to be from an event in November 2024, and it has been referred to the Counter Terrorism

Internet Referral Unit for assessment and to determine whether any further police investigation may be required. Kneecap said they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah, denied any

intention to instigate violence and apologised to the families of murdered MPs, adding: "We reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual.

Ever." The band also decried the misuse of their footage and said: "An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it

were a call to action. "To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt."