Member of Irish rap group Kneecap appears at UK court on terrorism charge
Member of Kneecap Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name of Moglai Bap, arrives at the Westminster Magistrates' Court, on the day Kneecap member Liam O'Hanna, also known as Liam Og O hAnnaidh and performing under the name of Mo Chara, who has been charged with a terrorism offence in relation to the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag onstage in 2024, appears in court, in London, Britain, August 20, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
LONDON - A member of Irish rap group Kneecap was welcomed by hundreds of supporters as he arrived at a London court on Wednesday, charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who was initially charged under the Anglicised name Liam O'Hanna and whose stage name is Mo Chara, is alleged to have waved the flag of the banned militant group Hezbollah during a Kneecap gig in London in November 2024.
The 27-year-old was charged in May under the Terrorism Act, under which it is a criminal offence to display an article in a way which arouses reasonable suspicion that someone is a supporter of a proscribed organisation.
Wednesday's hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court is expected to deal with Óg Ó hAnnaidh's argument that the charge was brought too late and should be thrown out, failing which he is likely to formally enter a plea.
Belfast-based Kneecap, who rap in Irish and English and regularly display pro-Palestinian messages during their gigs, previously said the flag had been thrown on stage and described the charge as an attempt to silence them.
The group – who rap about Irish identity and support the republican cause of uniting Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland – have been increasingly vocal about the war in Gaza since Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged.
Kneecap led a 30,000-strong crowd at Glastonbury Festival in June in chants against Prime Minister Keir Starmer and accused Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza, which Israel denies. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Lebanon says it is beginning disarmament of Palestinian factions in refugee camps
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo BEIRUT - Lebanon said on Thursday it was launching the planned disarmament of Palestinian factions in refugee camps, part of a wider effort to establish a state monopoly on arms. The planned disarmament was starting with the handover of weapons on Thursday from the Burj al-Barajneh camp in Beirut to the Lebanese army, the Lebanese prime minister's office said. The move is meant to mark the start of a broader disarmament effort, with additional deliveries expected in the coming weeks from Burj al-Barajneh and other camps across the country, the office said in a statement. An official from Fatah told Reuters that the only weapons being handed over so far were illegal arms that entered the camp 24 hours ago. TV footage showed army vehicles entering the camp ahead of a handover. Reuters could not independently verify what arms were being handed over. As part of a truce with Israel struck in November and backed by the United States, Lebanon committed to restricting arms to six specific state security forces, in a challenge to Iran-backed Shi'ite Muslim group Hezbollah. The cabinet has tasked the army with drawing up a plan to establish a state monopoly on arms by the end of the year. The initiative to disarm Palestinian factions is part of an agreement reached during a May 21 summit between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, which affirmed Lebanon's sovereignty and the principle that only the state should bear arms, the statement from the prime minister's office said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Courier tip-off leads to HSA seizure of Kpods, drugs in Tampines and Grange Road raids Singapore Large flocks of parakeets a spectacle in Choa Chu Kang, but they may affect native species Singapore Singapore students shine in Paris with record medal haul at history Olympiad Singapore Teacher charged over allegedly making student undress in video call, sending her his nude photo Business Changi Travel Services cuts 30 staff amid market shifts Singapore Singapore Parliament releases seating plan for 15th term: Find out who is sitting where Asia HK water scandal: How distrust over China bottled water sparked a probe into govt contract Asia Indonesia's Gaza rescue bid: Help or hype? Two days later, Lebanese and Palestinian officials agreed on a timeline and mechanism for disarmament, the statement said. Palestinian factions have long operated with relative autonomy in several of Lebanon's 12 refugee camps, which fall largely outside the jurisdiction of the Lebanese state. The latest handover represents the most serious bid in years to address weapons held inside the camps. REUTERS
CNA
8 hours ago
- CNA
Iran holds military drills after big losses in war with Israel
DUBAI: Iran on Thursday (Aug 21) launched its first solo military exercises since its June war with Israel, state media reported, seeking to reassert an image of strength after suffering heavy losses. Navy units of Iran's regular armed forces fired missiles and drones at open water targets in the Indian Ocean under the "Sustainable Power 1404" drill, state television reported. "These drills take place around a month after the Iran-Russia drill under the name Casarex 2025 which took place in Iran's northern waters (Caspian Sea). The Sustainable Power in Iran's southern waters," state TV said. Israel attacked Iran in a 12-day air war which the United States briefly joined, pounding key nuclear installations and killing top military commanders and nuclear scientists. Israel largely destroyed Iran's air defences during the war and much of its stockpile of ballistic weapons is believed to have been damaged by Israeli strikes. Since then, the Islamic Republic has said it is ready to counter any future attacks. "Any new adventure by the enemy will be faced with a strong slap," the Defence Ministry said in a statement on Thursday. US President Donald Trump has threatened to strike Iran again if it revives nuclear facilities including uranium enrichment plants. Tehran suspended negotiations with Washington aimed at curbing the country's nuclear ambitions after the Israeli and US airstrikes. Iran denies any intent to develop atomic bombs.
Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Straits Times
Iran holds military drills after big losses in war with Israel
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Navy units of Iran's regular armed forces fired missiles and drones at open water targets in the Indian Ocean. DUBAI – Iran on Aug 21 launched its first solo military exercises since its June war with Israel, state media reported, seeking to reassert an image of strength after suffering heavy losses. Navy units of Iran's regular armed forces fired missiles and drones at open water targets in the Indian Ocean under the Sustainable Power 1404 drill, state television reported. 'These drills take place around a month after the Iran-Russia drill under the name Casarex 2025 which took place in Iran's northern waters (Caspian Sea). The Sustainable Power drills... are in Iran's southern waters,' state TV said. Israel attacked Iran in a 12-day air war which the United States briefly joined, pounding key nuclear installations and killing top military commanders and nuclear scientists. Israel largely destroyed Iran's air defences during the war and much of its stockpile of ballistic weapons is believed to have been damaged by Israeli strikes. Since then, the Islamic Republic has said it is ready to counter any future attacks. 'Any new adventure by the enemy will be faced with a strong slap,' the Defence Ministry said in a statement on Aug 21. US President Donald Trump has threatened to strike Iran again if it revives nuclear facilities including uranium enrichment plants. Tehran suspended negotiations with Washington aimed at curbing the country's nuclear ambitions after the Israeli and US airstrikes. Iran denies any intent to develop atomic bombs. Iran believes the moment for 'effective' nuclear talks with the US has not yet arrived, its top diplomat said on Aug 20 , though Tehran would not completely cut off cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. REUTERS
