Kneecap’s Mo Chara charged with terror offence

Kneecap‘s Mo Chara has been charged with a terror offence following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

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The cost pertains to the musician, actual identify Liam O’Hanna, allegedly displaying a flag in assist of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation. The incident is alleged to have taken place throughout a present at O2 Discussion board Kentish City in London on November 21, 2024.

He'll seem at Westminster Magistrates’ Courtroom on Wednesday, June 18.

Following the Irish rap trio’s overtly political statements in assist of Palestine at Coachella, which  supposedly “blindsided” pageant organisers, counter-terror police started to evaluate footage from the present which seems to indicate him shouting “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah.” Within the UK, it's a crime to indicate assist for both of those organisations.

In response, Kneecap shared a publish on X/Twitter of a graphic which learn “18 Months Of Genocide Footage Not Below Investigation By UK Counter-Terror Police”, with the caption “some info.”

Some info 👇 pic.twitter.com/hoVZrqg1hl

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) April 24, 2025

O’Hanna has not but entered a plea. The band have since denied supporting both Hamas or Hezbollah and have said they might not incite violence towards any people. They've additionally argued that the video footage was taken out of context.

“Allow us to be unequivocal: we don't, and have by no means, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all assaults on civilians, all the time. It's by no means okay. We all know this greater than anybody, given our nation’s historical past,” they stated on April 28.

NME has contacted Kneecap’s representatives for remark.

Within the wake of the investigation, Kneecap noticed scheduled German appearances at both Hurricane Festival and Southside Festival pulled, as nicely substitute reveals in Hamburg, Cologne and Berlin deliberate for this summer season. They have been additionally dropped from the Eden Challenge line-up in Cornwall and introduced a substitute present in Plymouth which was subsequently cancelled as nicely.

As well as, the controversy provoked calls from MPs to have them faraway from the line-ups of TNSMT, Glastonbury and extra.

One other supply of controversy from the footage was the band calling on followers to “kill their native MP”. This provoked condemnation from the Jo Cox Basis – launched in recognition of the Labour MP Jo Cox who was murdered in 2016 – and the daughter of the late Conservative MP Dsvid Amess, who was murdered in 2021. They denied selling violence towards MPs and apologised to the households of Cox and Amess.

Kneecap known as the controversy “a coordinated smear marketing campaign” towards their efforts in “exposing the continued genocide towards the Palestinian folks”.

Many have shared their assist for Kneecap and the “freedom of expression” – together with Tom Morello, Brian Eno, Pulp, Fontaines D.C. and extra, who all signed an open letter to guard freedom of expression. Probably the most vocal acts backing the trio is Huge Assault – who themselves have been ardent supporters for Palestine for many years and have boycotted performing in Israel since 1999.