Kneecap member charged with terrorism offence

A member of the Belfast rap trio Kneecap has been charged with a terrorism offence.

Liam O’Hanna, 27, was charged by post with displaying a flag in support of Hizballah, a proscribed terrorist organisation, at a concert at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town on 21st November last year.

Mr O’Hanna is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 18th June.

Footage of the concert in question appeared to show a member of the band, draped in a Hizballah flag, shouting to the crowd, “Up Hamas, up Hizballah.”

In a statement following considerable backlash, the group said: “Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hizballah.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has written to a number of venues, including the Glastonbury Festival, to reconsider hosting the group. Several has cancelled gigs so far, and more may do so following the charge.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We are pleased that police have acted swiftly after we and others reported Kneecap in relation to alleged events onstage at the November concert last year. Hamas and Hizballah are both proscribed terrorist organisations in the UK. The law must be enforced. We will be monitoring the case closely.”