Kneecap Rapper Charged With Terror Offence in London

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, also known as Mo Chara and a member of the Belfast-based Irish rap group Kneecap, has been charged by British police with a terrorism offence for displaying a Hezbollah flag, a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, during a November 2024 concert at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London. The Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command began investigating after reviewing an online video, with the Crown Prosecution Service subsequently authorizing the charge. Ó hAnnaidh, 27, is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 18. The case follows previous controversies, including Kneecap's political statements at performances and their support for Palestinians, notably at Coachella. The incident and charge have drawn significant attention to the intersection of music, activism, and the UK's counter-terrorism laws. Authorities continue to scrutinize Kneecap's public appearances.