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Police statement ahead of Kneecap's Glasgow 02 Academy gig

Police statement ahead of Kneecap's Glasgow 02 Academy gig

Glasgow Times07-07-2025
It comes after the rap group confirmed that they would no longer be performing at TRNSMT after "concerns expressed by police".
Kneecap organised the show as a replacement, announcing it by saying: "To the thousands of people who bought tickets, flights, and hotels to see us play, we are sorry... it is out of our hands.
"Glasgow has always been a huge city for us. We've played there many, many times, with no issues - ever.
"Make of that what you will. To try to make up for it, we will be at your O2 Academy on Tuesday, July 8."
Police statement ahead of Kneecap's Glasgow 02 Academy gig (Image: Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images))
READ MORE: Irish hip-hop group Kneecap to play gig in Glasgow
Now, Police Scotland has confirmed that a plan will be in place for their show and 'a number of events and concerts' scheduled to take place this week.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA will play a joint headline show at Hampden, while Billie Eilish will play her second sold-out show at the Hydro all on the same night.
And there will be measures in place to ensure safety and minimise disruption, say the Police.
READ MORE: TRNSMT food prices REVEALED including £15.50 pizza
Superintendent Paul Douglas said: 'We are aware of a number of events and concerts due to take place in the Greater Glasgow area in the week beginning Monday, 7 July, 2025.
'A proportionate and considered policing plan is in place within the city and we are working with a number of stakeholders to ensure the safety of all those attending these events and where possible minimise disruption to the people of Glasgow.'
In May, Police Scotland stated that Kneecap's performance at the festival - which is set to take place at Glasgow Green on July 11 - would require a 'significant' police operation.
READ MORE: New plan revealed for historic Glasgow pub - here are the details
A spokesperson for the force said: "Any decision on the lineup at TRNSMT is for the organisers and there was no prior consultation with Police Scotland before acts were booked.
"Officers have highlighted that the potential reaction of such a large audience to this band would require a significant policing operation in order to support the delivery of a safe event.
"We have also passed on information from the public around safety concerns to allow organisers to make an informed decision on the running of the festival."
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‘They are turning him into a hero': Kneecap solidarity gig held in Dublin
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‘They are turning him into a hero': Kneecap solidarity gig held in Dublin
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Kneecap flags and logos hung from the windows in Connolly Books, which dubs itself Ireland's oldest radical bookshop, in solidarity with O hAnnaidh, Kneecap, and the people of Palestine. Pro-Palestine supporters criticised the decision by British authorities to bring a charge against the performer instead of focusing on the Israeli government's actions against the Palestinian people. O hAnnaidh, 27, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in November last year. Hundreds of Kneecap supporters greeted O hAnnaidh as he arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Wednesday morning, alongside fellow Kneecap rappers Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh. During the hearing, his defence team argued the case should be thrown out, citing a technical error in the way the charge against him was brought. The case has been adjourned until September 26, when the judge will rule on whether he has the jurisdiction to try the case. At the protest session at Connolly Books on Wednesday afternoon, several artists played Irish traditional music in solidarity with the rappers and Palestine. Musician Ru O'Shea, who performed at the demonstration, said charging O hAnnaidh had turned him into 'a hero'. 'I think it's been a huge misstep by the powers that be to go after him in the first place,' he told the PA news agency. 'I reckon that they don't have a thing on him, and I think they are turning him into a hero, and I think we need a hero. Ispini na hEireann play at Connolly Books in Dublin's Temple Bar area (Niall Carson/PA) 'What's happening in Palestine right now, it's gotten to such an extreme that it's waking a lot of people up, including the British who might not have ever seen it otherwise and stayed in that bubble forever.' O'Shea's friend John Feehan said: 'I think people are maybe starting to look up a little bit in Britain, and I think things like what's happening with Kneecap is a catalyst for people to be like 'Oh, wait a minute, what's actually happening here?'. So I hope there's momentum, but I really don't know.' Dubliner Aoife Powell, 19, said she came out to protest because she is 'angry' at the decision to charge an artist rather than focus on what is happening to the people of Gaza. 'I'm here because it just worries me that the fact that governments are focused on artists expressing themselves rather than the actual problem, which is obviously the genocide in Gaza,' she told PA. 'It's a little bit disheartening to see there's so much pressure being put on these artists to stop saying what they truly think and to stop standing on the right side of history. 'I feel like it's a distraction from what's actually happening. 'When a government tries to silence people, they should learn that they can never silence people. I feel like the public would get more angry at that.' Sean O'Grady is from Coleraine in Northern Ireland but has lived in Dublin for almost 70 years. Kneecap's Liam Og O hAnnaidh, speaks to supporters as he leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court in London (Lucy North/PA) 'I'm delighted with them (Kneecap), that they've done what they're doing, and they're getting plenty of publicity. 'The British government are crazy, I mean, what are they at? 'They're supplying a lot of the bombs, and a lot of the arms and ammunition to Israel to do what they're doing. So they should be ashamed of themselves instead of bringing in these people (to court) for stupid reasons. 'It's getting good publicity over there for the cause of the Palestinians.' Dubliner Dermot Nolan said he attended his first Palestine protest in 1967, and while he remembers horrific events such as the Vietnam War, the scale of death and injuries in Gaza is the worst he has ever lived through. 'I'm here because it's important to for two reasons – first of all, to show our intolerance of the genocide and slaughter that's being carried out by the US, Nato and Israel. 'The second reason is the question of civil rights. We're protesting about the indictment of a member of the Irish group Kneecap. 'It is a sign of creeping authoritarianism which is happening in all the western countries and most clearly in Britain.'

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