Kneecap to take to Glastonbury stage today despite Keir Starmer calling for them to be axed after terror charge
KNEECAP are set to perform at Glastonbury today despite calls for the Irish hip hop trio to be banned.
Frontman Liam Og O hAnnaidh was charged under the Terrorism Act after allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist group Hezbollah while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" during a gig in November.
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Last week the rapper - who performs under the name Mo Chara - and bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh were mobbed by hundreds of fans outside Westminster Magistrates' Court.
He was released on unconditional bail - and is due at the same court on August 20 for the next hearing.
Kneecap are due on the Somerset festival's West Holts Stage at 4pm on Saturday.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it is "not appropriate" for the group to perform at the festival, which started on Thursday.
Asked by The Sun on Sunday if he thinks Kneecap should play, the PM said: 'No I don't.
'I think we need to come down really clearly on this. I won't say too much, because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate.'
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch also said the BBC "should not be showing" the band's set in a post on social media.
Her post said: "The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda.
"One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act.
"As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism."
Lead singer from the group Kneecap arriving at Westminster magistrates court in London
The band are not currently listed for live broadcast.
Avon and Somerset Police said: "Ticket-holders can once again expect to see uniformed officers on site at Glastonbury Festival 24/7 throughout the festival as part of our extensive policing operation ensuring it is safe for everyone attending, as well as those who live nearby."
In response to the charge, Kneecap said in a post: '14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us...
'Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification.
'The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it.'
Hezbollah - founded in 1982 - is an Iran-backed Shiite militia.
The Lebanese terrorist organisation voiced support for the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 2023 before launching guided rockets and artillery shells at Israeli-occupied positions.
Israel has retaliated with strikes on Gaza - and the conflict remains ongoing, with thousands of people, including civilian children, killed.
Kneecap has said they "do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah", condemned all attacks on civilians, and alleged footage was "deliberately taken out of all context" as part of a "coordinated smear campaign" over their criticism of "the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people".
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