Latest news with #GetYourBritsOut
Metro
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Kneecap land biggest show yet in London after terror offence charge
Kneecap are going from strength to strength after announcing one of their biggest headline shows ever. The Belfast rap group – which consists of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí – were formed in 2017 and have risen to prominence with songs including C.E.A.R.T.A, H.O.O.D. and Get Your Brits Out. Last year a biographical film about them was released and also shortlisted for two Oscar awards. They've become known for releasing music that includes themes of Irish republicanism and Irish language rights and have vocally supported Palestine for several years now. However last month one of its members Mo Chara (Liam O'Hanna) was charged with a terror offence over an incident at a gig in the O2 in north London. Although they were immediately met with calls to be banned from some festivals – and had some of their headline shows cancelled – Kneecap have now announced a massive show in London at the OVO – a venue with a capacity of 12,500. Posting a poster of their upcoming gig on social media, the band wrote: 'All London heads – our biggest headline show outside of Ireland will take place on September 18th at the OVO Wembley Arena. 'Pre-sale is tomorrow (Wednesday) at 10am in our WhatsApp channel. General sale is 10am this Friday. The belly of the beast – let's go.' The news was met with a wave of support from fans, who said they would be snapping up tickets, with others begging the group to play shows in their home cities too. Late last month Mo Chara, 27, was accused of displaying a flag in support of the Lebanese Shia Islamist political party, Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK. He is alleged to have displayed it 'in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation.' The incident is alleged to have happened at a concert last November – but the Metropolitan Police said it was only made aware of video evidence in April. He due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18, the force added. A few days ago, the band released a t-shirt that reads 'Free Mo Chara' and re-shared a poster that encourages fans to attend his hearing. It reads: 'Let's all show solidarity with Liam Óg and stand against political policing and the attempts to silence and restrict Kneecap. We will fight them in their court. We will win.' Following the charge being made public, several shows in Germany were cancelled, and Kneecap were removed from the Eden Session lineup in Cornwall and TRNSMT in Glasgow. Soon after they announced make-up gigs in nearby cities which quickly sold out. Other acts including Massive Attack, Brian Eno and CMAT have backed the band in an open letter too. The trio have a string of huge shows this summer – including at Glastonbury Festival and shows at Green Man, 2000 Trees and with Fontaines D.C. They also headlined Wide Awake Festival in London last month. Kneecap have repeatedly denied supporting either Hamas or Hezbollah. In response to the charge, they shared a statement which said that 'while 14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza…British establishment is focused on us'. More Trending 'We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is. As they profit from genocide, they use an 'anti-terror law' against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. '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. 'We stand proudly with the people. You stand complicit with the war criminals. We are on the right side of history. You are not. We will fight you in court. We will win. Free Palestine.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Disposable vapes officially banned in the UK from today MORE: Lidl urgently pulls popular protein snack from shelves over 'health risks' MORE: Map shows average savings in different UK regions — how does yours compare?
Express Tribune
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Kneecap singer raises Hezbollah flag at gig, faces terror charges
The charge follows growing scrutiny over Kneecap's performances. Photo: File A member of Irish rap group Kneecap has been charged with a terror offence for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London concert, police said on Wednesday. Liam O'Hanna, 27, known by his stage name Mo Chara, is accused of showing support for the Lebanese militant group, who are proscribed by British authorities, during a performance on November 21. London's Metropolitan Police said officers from its Counter Terrorism Command launched an investigation after a video of the event surfaced online in April. O'Hanna is accused of displaying a flag "in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation" in contravention of the 2000 Terrorism Act. The rapper, from Belfast, is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18, police said. The group had been scheduled to perform at a festival in London on Friday. The charge follows growing scrutiny of Kneecap's performances after footage circulated online showing provocative political statements made by the band on stage. One video appeared to show a band member shouting: "Up Hamas, up Hezbollah." Those groups, in Gaza and in Lebanon, are banned as terror organisations in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them. Censorship debate The band, known for its confrontational style and Irish nationalist messaging, has denied supporting violence or banned groups. It said video footage had been "deliberately taken out of context". The backlash led to the cancellation of several of the group's shows, including in southwest England and Germany. The group's songs include Get Your Brits Out and Better Way To Live. The controversy has sparked a wider debate about artistic expression and political censorship. The family of Conservative MP David Amess, who was fatally stabbed by an Islamic State group follower in 2021, called for an apology while the party leader Kemi Badenoch called for the band to be banned. In a statement in April, the band denied promoting extremist views and apologised to the families of Amess and Jo Cox, who was murdered in 2016 by a neo-Nazi sympathiser a week before the divisive Brexit referendum. "We do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah," the group said. Nearly 40 musicians and groups, including Pulp, Paul Weller, Primal Scream and Massive Attack, have publicly backed Kneecap, accusing authorities of suppressing creative freedom. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin had urged the band to clarify whether they supported the groups or not. An attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Israel's military response in Gaza has triggered a humanitarian crisis, with the territory's health ministry on Tuesday putting the death toll at 53,655.
NDTV
22-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Irish Rapper Displays Hezbollah Flag At Concert In London, Charged
London: A member of Irish rap group Kneecap has been charged with a terror offence for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London concert, police said on Wednesday. Liam O'Hanna, 27, known by his stage name Mo Chara, is accused of showing support for the Lebanese terroist group, who are proscribed by British authorities, during a performance on November 21. London's Metropolitan Police said officers from its Counter Terrorism Command launched an investigation after a video of the event surfaced online in April. O'Hanna is accused of displaying a flag "in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation" in contravention of the 2000 Terrorism Act. The rapper, from Belfast, is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18, police said. The group had been scheduled to perform at a festival in London on Friday. The charge follows growing scrutiny of Kneecap's performances after footage circulated online showing provocative political statements made by the band on stage. One video appeared to show a band member shouting: "Up Hamas, up Hezbollah." Those groups, in Gaza and in Lebanon, are banned as terror organisations in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them. Censorship debate The band, known for its confrontational style and Irish nationalist messaging, has denied supporting violence or banned groups. It said video footage had been "deliberately taken out of context". The backlash led to the cancellation of several of the group's shows, including in southwest England and Germany. The group's songs include "Get Your Brits Out" and "Better Way To Live". The controversy has sparked a wider debate about artistic expression and political censorship. The family of Conservative MP David Amess, who was fatally stabbed by an Islamic State group follower in 2021, called for an apology while the party leader Kemi Badenoch called for the band to be banned. In a statement in April, the band denied promoting extremist views and apologised to the families of Amess and Jo Cox, who was murdered in 2016 by a neo-Nazi sympathiser a week before the divisive Brexit referendum. "We do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah," the group said. Nearly 40 musicians and groups, including Pulp, Paul Weller, Primal Scream and Massive Attack, have publicly backed Kneecap, accusing authorities of suppressing creative freedom. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin had urged the band to clarify whether they supported the groups or not. An attack in Israel by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Israel's military response in Gaza has triggered a humanitarian crisis, with the territory's health ministry on Tuesday putting the death count at 53,655.
The National
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Kneecap issue statement calling terror charge 'not serious'
Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was charged under the name Liam O'Hanna over the alleged displaying of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, on November 21 last year. In a statement on social media, the group said: '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. 'We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves, this is political policing, this is a carnival of distraction. 'We are not the story, genocide is, as they profit from genocide, they use an 'anti-terror law' against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesn't have a jury. What's the objective? 'To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out. '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. 'WE STAND PROUDLY WITH THE PEOPLE. YOU STAND COMPLICIT WITH THE WAR CRIMINALS. WE ARE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY. YOU ARE NOT. WE WILL FIGHT YOU IN YOUR COURT. WE WILL WIN. FREE PALESTINE.' Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh was charged under the name Liam O'Hanna (Image: PA) O hAnnaidh, 27, of Belfast, was charged by postal requisition and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18, the Metropolitan Police said. Officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command were made aware on April 22 of an online video from the event, police said. An investigation led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the charge. Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'. The Belfast rap trio have had gigs cancelled after the footage emerged, but are still listed to headline Friday's Wide Awake day festival in Brixton's Brockwell Park, as well as TRNSMT in Glasgow in July. In 2024, the band released an eponymous film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender which is a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and follows the Belfast group on their mission to save their mother tongue through music. Formed in 2017, the group, made up of O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language, and their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live and 3Cag.
New Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Irish rapper charged over Hizbollah flag at London concert
LONDON: A member of Irish rap group Kneecap has been charged with a terror offence for allegedly displaying a Hizbollah flag at a London concert, police said on Wednesday. Liam O'Hanna, 27, known by his stage name Mo Chara, is accused of showing support for the Lebanese resistance group, who are proscribed by British authorities, during a performance on November 21. London's Metropolitan Police said officers from its Counter Terrorism Command launched an investigation after a video of the event surfaced online in April. O'Hanna is accused of displaying a flag "in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation" in contravention of the 2000 Terrorism Act. The rapper, from Belfast, is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18, police said. The group had been scheduled to perform at a festival in London on Friday. The charge follows growing scrutiny of Kneecap's performances after footage circulated online showing provocative political statements made by the band on stage. One video appeared to show a band member shouting: "Up Hamas, up Hizbollah." Those groups, in Gaza and in Lebanon, are banned as terror organisations in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them. The band, known for its confrontational style and Irish nationalist messaging, has denied supporting violence or banned groups. It said video footage had been "deliberately taken out of context." The backlash led to the cancellation of several of the group's shows, including in southwest England and Germany. The group's songs include "Get Your Brits Out" and "Better Way To Live." The controversy has sparked a wider debate about artistic expression and political censorship. The family of Conservative MP David Amess, who was fatally stabbed by an Islamic State group follower in 2021, called for an apology while the party leader Kemi Badenoch called for the band to be banned. In a statement in April, the band denied promoting extremist views and apologised to the families of Amess and Jo Cox, who was murdered in 2016 by a neo-Nazi sympathiser a week before the divisive Brexit referendum. "We do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hizbollah," the group said. Nearly 40 musicians and groups, including Pulp, Paul Weller, Primal Scream and Massive Attack, have publicly backed Kneecap, accusing authorities of suppressing creative freedom. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin had urged the band to clarify whether they supported the groups or not. An attack in Israel by Hamas fighters on October 7, 2023, resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Israel's military response in Gaza has triggered a humanitarian crisis, with the territory's health ministry on Tuesday putting the death toll at 53,655.
