Kneecap Pulled from Scotland Festival over Police Safety Concerns

The Belfast rap trio Kneecap has been removed from the lineup of the TRNSMT music festival in Glasgow due to police concerns about crowd safety. Police Scotland indicated that hosting the band would require a significant policing operation and noted that there was no prior consultation before the booking. The band, which has faced backlash for controversial remarks made in the past and recent terrorism charges against member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag, expressed regret over the cancellation but announced a replacement gig at Glasgow's O2 Academy. Scotland's First Minister John Swinney criticized the band for crossing a line with their comments, calling their presence at the festival unacceptable. Kneecap has characterized the terrorism charge as political policing and a distraction from larger issues, including the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Festival organizers and police have emphasized safety as the primary concern leading to the band's removal from TRNSMT.