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Toronto Sun
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Member of Irish rap trio Kneecap charged with terror offense in U.K.
Published May 21, 2025 • 1 minute read Rich Peppiatt, Naoise ó Cairealláin, DJ Provaí and Mo Chara of Kneecap pose on arrival at the Britain Independent Film Awards on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in London. Photo by Thomas Krych / Invision/AP Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. LONDON — British police on Wednesday charged a member of Irish hip-hop group Kneecap with a terrorism offense for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a concert. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The Metropolitan Police force said Liam 'g ' hAnnaidh, 27, was charged under the Terrorism Act with displaying a flag in support a proscribed organization. The alleged offense happened at the Kentish Town Forum, a London concert venue, on Nov. 21, 2024. The force said the musician — whose stage name is Mo Chara and whom police referred to by the English spelling of his name, Liam O'Hanna — was charged by postal requisition and is due in court on June 18. Police are still investigating footage from another Kneecap concert in November 2023. The Belfast trio has been praised for invigorating the Irish-language cultural scene in Northern Ireland, where the status of the language remains a contested political issue in a society still split between British unionist and Irish nationalist communities. It has also been criticized for lyrics laden with expletives and drug references and for political statements. Kneecap was not well known outside Northern Ireland before the release of a raucous feature film loosely based on the band's origins and fueled by a heavy mix of drugs, sex, violence, politics and humor. The group's members played themselves in 'Kneecap,' which won an audience award when it was screened at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. It was shortlisted for best foreign-language picture and best original song at this year's Academy Awards, though it didn't make the final cut. Canada Canada Toronto Maple Leafs Golf Columnists
Japan Today
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
UK counterterror police say they will investigate comments by Irish rap group Kneecap
FILE - Rich Peppiatt, Naoise ó Cairealláin, DJ Provaí and Mo Chara of Kneecap pose on arrival at the Britain Independent Film Awards on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in London. (Photo by Thomas Krych/Invision/AP, File) British police said Thursday that counterterrorism detectives will investigate comments by Irish hip-hop group Kneecap, which has been criticized by UK politicians over statements about the Middle East and British politics. The Irish-language rappers from Northern Ireland were reported to police over footage from a 2024 concert in which a band member appeared to say: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' Footage from another concert, in 2023, appears to show a member of the trio shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' – both banned organizations in the UK. London's Metropolitan Police force said the videos 'were referred to the Counter Terrorism internet Referral Unit for assessment by specialist officers, who have determined there are grounds for further investigation into potential offenses linked to both videos. 'The investigation is now being carried out by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command and inquiries remain ongoing at this time,' the force said in a statement. The Belfast trio is known for satirical lyrics and use of symbolism associated with the Irish republican movement, which seeks to unite Northern Ireland, currently part of the UK, with the Republic of Ireland. More than 3,600 people were killed during three decades of violence in Northern Ireland involving Irish republican militants, pro-British Loyalist militias and the UK security forces. Kneecap's comments were criticized in the House of Commons this week by government and opposition lawmakers, who noted that two members of Parliament have been murdered since 2016. In a statement on Instagram, band members Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh apologized to the families of Labour Party lawmaker Jo Cox, who was killed in by a far-right attacker in 2016, and Conservative legislator David Amess, murdered in 2021 by an Islamic State supporter. The group said 'we never intended to cause you hurt.' Kneecap said it had 'never supported Hamas or Hezbollah,' and accused 'establishment figures' of taking comments out of context to 'manufacture moral hysteria' because of the band's criticism of Israel's attacks on Palestinians in Gaza. Several Kneecap gigs have been canceled as a result of the controversy, and some British lawmakers have called on organizers of June's Glastonbury Festival to scrap a planned performance by the group. Fellow musicians have come to the rappers' defense. Several dozen performers, including British rock group Primal Scream, Irish band Fontaines D.C. and mod singer Paul Weller have signed an open letter criticizing a 'clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform' Kneecap and opposing 'political repression of artistic freedom.' © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Euronews
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Artists support Kneecap as UK counterterror police confirm investigation
ADVERTISEMENT The politically-charged situation surrounding Northern Irish rap band Kneecap continues, as British police said today that counterterrorism detectives will investigate comments made about the Middle East and British politics. As reported earlier this week , one of these videos appears to show a band member shouting 'Up Hamas, up Hezbollah', while the other allegedly shows the group calling for the deaths of Conversative MPs. London's Metropolitan Police force said the videos 'were referred to the Counter Terrorism internet Referral Unit for assessment by specialist officers, who have determined there are grounds for further investigation into potential offenses linked to both videos.' 'The investigation is now being carried out by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command and inquiries remain ongoing at this time,' the force said in a statement. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Kneecap to face prosecution over the two videos. The Belfast trio, known for satirical lyrics and on-stage provocations , apologised earlier this week to the daughter of murdered Tory MP Sir David Amess, and have denied supporting either Hamas or Hezbollah . They maintain the comments were taken out of context and that they are victim to a smear campaign. 'Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah,' Kneecap said in a statement. 'We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation's history. We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever. An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action.' Regardless, there have been increasing calls for the band to be dropped from summer festival line-ups – including the Glastonbury Festival programme. A handful of the group's gigs have been cancelled already – like the ones in Berlin and at Cornwall's Eden Project. Now, fellow musicians have come to the rappers' defense. Kneecap at Britain Independent Film Awards - 2024 AP Photo Several dozen performers, including British rock group Primal Scream, Irish band Fontaines D.C. and Pulp have signed an open letter criticizing a 'clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform' Kneecap and opposing 'political repression of artistic freedom.' The letter reads: "As artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom.' "In a democracy, no political figures or political parties should have the right to dictate who does and does not play at music festivals or gigs that will be enjoyed by thousands of people." It also accuses politicians of "strategically concocting moral outrage over the stage utterings of a young punk band" while ignoring a "genocide" in Gaza. "Kneecap are not the story. Gaza is the story. Genocide is the story," it says. "And the silence, acquiescence and support of those crimes against humanity by the elected British Government is the real story. "Solidarity with all artists with the moral courage to speak out against Israeli war crimes, and the ongoing persecution and slaughter of the Palestinian people." ADVERTISEMENT Signatories also include Paul Weller, Annie Mac, Blindboy, English Teacher, Enter Shikari, Idles, Shirley Manson, Sleaford Mods, The Pogues and Thin Lizzy. Iconic trip-hop outfit Massive Attack have also issued a statement on the ongoing controversy, titled 'Kneecap are not the story'. Massive Attack wrote: 'If senior politicians can find neither the time, nor the words to condemn, say, the murder of fifteen voluntary aid workers in Gaza, or the illegal starvation of a civilian population as a method of warfare, or the killing of thousands & thousands of children in the same territory, by a state in possession of the highest precision weapons on earth; how much notice should a music festival take of their moral advice on booking performing acts?' The statement continues: 'As a band that has spoken publicly for more than 30 years about the illegal occupation, apartheid system and killing with impunity of thousands of Palestinians, we are hyper aware of the both the human cost of abject political silence, and the commercial implications of publicly expressing solidarity with an oppressed people.' ADVERTISEMENT At the time of writing, the band's appearances at Glastonbury, TRNSMT and other European festivals remain scheduled.
Toronto Sun
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
U.K. counterterror police say they will investigate comments by Irish rap group Kneecap
Published May 01, 2025 • 2 minute read FILE - Rich Peppiatt, Naoise ó Cairealláin, DJ Provaí and Mo Chara of Kneecap pose on arrival at the Britain Independent Film Awards on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in London. Photo by Thomas Krych / Thomas Krych/Invision/AP LONDON (AP) — British police said Thursday that counterterrorism detectives will investigate comments by Irish hip-hop group Kneecap, which has been criticized by U.K. politicians over statements about the Middle East and British politics. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The Irish-language rappers from Northern Ireland were reported to police over footage from a 2024 concert in which a band member appeared to say: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' Footage from another concert, in 2023, appears to show a member of the trio shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' — both banned organizations in the U.K. London's Metropolitan Police force said the videos 'were referred to the Counter Terrorism internet Referral Unit for assessment by specialist officers, who have determined there are grounds for further investigation into potential offences linked to both videos. 'The investigation is now being carried out by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command and inquiries remain ongoing at this time,' the force said in a statement. The Belfast trio is known for satirical lyrics and use of symbolism associated with the Irish republican movement, which seeks to unite Northern Ireland, currently part of the U.K., with the Republic of Ireland. More than 3,600 people were killed during three decades of violence in Northern Ireland involving Irish republican militants, pro-British Loyalist militias and the U.K. security forces. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Kneecap's comments were criticized in the House of Commons this week by government and opposition lawmakers, who noted that two members of Parliament have been murdered since 2016. In a statement on Instagram, band members Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh apologized to the families of Labour Party lawmaker Jo Cox, who was killed in by a far-right attacker in 2016, and Conservative legislator David Amess, murdered in 2021 by an Islamic State supporter. The group said 'we never intended to cause you hurt.' Kneecap said it had 'never supported Hamas or Hezbollah,' and accused 'establishment figures' of taking comments out of context to 'manufacture moral hysteria' because of the band's criticism of Israel's attacks on Palestinians in Gaza. Several Kneecap gigs have been cancelled as a result of the controversy, and some British lawmakers have called on organizers of June's Glastonbury Festival to scrap a planned performance by the group. Fellow musicians have come to the rappers' defence. Several dozen performers, including British rock group Primal Scream, Irish band Fontaines D.C. and mod singer Paul Weller have signed an open letter criticizing a 'clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform' Kneecap and opposing 'political repression of artistic freedom.' Sunshine Girls Columnists Travel USA Sunshine Girls Editorial Cartoons
