Hundreds support Irish group Kneecap at UK court terrorism hearing
Protesters gather outside Westminster Magistrates' Court, on the day of the appearance of 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, in London, Britain, June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Protesters gather outside Westminster Magistrates' Court, ahead of the arrival of 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, in London, Britain, June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Chris J. Ratcliffe
Protesters gather outside Westminster Magistrates' Court, on the day of the appearance of 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, in London, Britain, June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Protesters gather outside Westminster Magistrates' Court, ahead of the arrival of 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, in London, Britain, June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Chris J. Ratcliffe
Protesters gather outside Westminster Magistrates' Court, on the day of the appearance of 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, in London, Britain, June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
LONDON - Hundreds of people gathered outside a London court on Wednesday to support a member of the Irish rap group Kneecap who was due to appear over a terrorism charge for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed group Hezbollah.
Liam O'Hanna, whose stage name is Mo Chara, is alleged to have waved the flag of banned militant group Hezbollah during a Kneecap gig in London in November 2024.
The 27-year-old was charged last month 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.
Belfast-based Kneecap, who rap in Irish and English and regularly display pro-Palestine messages during their gigs, previously said the flag had been thrown on stage and described the charge against O'Hanna as an attempt to silence them.
Hundreds of supporters gathered outside Westminster Magistrates Court ahead of the hearing, including some Northern Irish politicians and musicians, singing and waving Irish and Palestinian flags.
O'Hanna had to push past a huge scrum of photographers when he arrived, with some supporters pushing their way into the entrance of the court, chanting Free Palestine and Free Mo Chara Now. REUTERS
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