Latest news with #LiamO'Hanna
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
UK police drop Kneecap probe after Glastonbury performance
Irish rap band Kneecap perform at the West Holts stage on the fourth day of the Glastonbury festival at Worthy Farm in the village of Pilton in Somerset, south-west England, on June 28, 2025.--AFP UK police said on Friday they had dropped a criminal investigation into on-stage comments by Irish rappers Kneecap at the Glastonbury festival. Avon and Somerset Police in southwest England said last month it had launched an enquiry after reviewing 'video footage and audio' of both Kneecap and London-based duo Bob Vylan, whose frontman led a chant against the Israeli army at the festival. The Kneecap probe was focused on remarks made about a forthcoming court case in which one band member Liam O'Hanna, known by his stage name Mo Chara, is charged with a 'terror' offence over alleged support for banned organisations Hamas and Hezbollah. But in an update the force said it would take no further action against Kneecap, whose members had been informed of the decision. 'Detectives sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service during their enquiries and after that advice, we have made the decision to take no further action on the grounds there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence,' it said. Inquiries into the separate allegations against Bob Vylan, however, would continue, it added. Chara appeared in court in June accused of having displayed a Hezbollah flag while saying 'Up Hamas, Up Hezbollah' at a London concert last year. Hezbollah and Hamas are banned in the UK, where it is an offence to express support for them. Kneecap deny the terrorism charge and say the video featuring the Hezbollah flag has been taken out of context. — AFP
Japan Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
French town withdraws pop festival funding over Kneecap appearance
Kneecap singer Mo Chara -- French town Saint Cloud has withdrawn its subsidy for one of France's biggest festivals because of the group's appearance A town that hosts one of France's biggest pop festivals is withdrawing its subsidy to the event because controversial Irish rappers Kneecap had been booked to play. British police are investigating Kneecap's lead singer under a terror offense after he was accused of displaying a Hezbollah flag at a concert last year. The Lebanese militant group is banned in Britain. Police said they are also investigating videos allegedly showing calls for the death of British lawmakers. The Paris suburb of Saint Cloud approved a 40,000-euro ($46,500) subsidy this year for the Rock En Seine festival that last year attracted 180,000 people over four days. The town council said the money had been agreed before the lineup was announced. Kneecap are to appear at the event on August 24. Saint Cloud said its council had now voted to withdraw the subsidy. A statement said the town "finances, within its means, a cultural and artistic project. On the other hand it does not finance political action, nor demands, and even less calls to violence, such as calls to kill lawmakers, whatever their nationality." The town said it respects the festival's "freedom" to decide its lineup and had not sought "any kind of negotiation with the aim of influencing the program". Kneecap have been taken off the bill for festivals in Scotland and Germany this year because of the controversy. The group have said they are committed to the Palestinian cause but have denied any terrorism connection. Singer Liam O'Hanna, who appears under the name Mo Chara, has condemned the charges against him as political. O'Hanna is to appear in court again four days before the Rock En Seine show. © 2025 AFP
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
France pulls festival funding over Kneecap
A town that hosts one of France's biggest pop festivals announced Wednesday that it was withdrawing its subsidy to the event because controversial Irish rappers Kneecap had been booked to play. As per AFP, British police are investigating Kneecap's lead singer under a terror offence after he was accused of displaying a Hezbollah flag at a concert last year. The Lebanese militant group is banned in Britain. Police said they are also investigating videos allegedly showing calls for the death of British lawmakers. The Paris suburb of Saint Cloud approved a 40,000 euro ($46,500) subsidy this year for the Rock En Seine festival that last year attracted 180,000 people over four days. The town council said the money had been agreed before the lineup was announced. Kneecap are to appear at the event on August 24. Saint Cloud said its council had now voted to withdraw the subsidy. A statement said the town "finances, within its means, a cultural and artistic project. On the other hand it does not finance political action, nor demands, and even less calls to violence, such as calls to kill lawmakers, whatever their nationality." The town said it respects the festival's "freedom" to decide its lineup and had not sought "any kind of negotiation with the aim of influencing the programme". Kneecap have been taken off the bill for festivals in Scotland and Germany this year because of the controversy. The group have said they are committed to the Palestinian cause but have denied any terrorism connection. Singer Liam O'Hanna, who appears under the name Mo Chara, has condemned the charges against him as political. O'Hanna is to appear in court again four days before the Rock En Seine show.
Local France
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Local France
French town withdraws festival funding over Kneecap appearance
British police are investigating Kneecap's lead singer under a terror offence after he was accused of displaying a Hezbollah flag at a concert last year. The Lebanese militant group is banned in Britain. Police said they are also investigating videos allegedly showing calls for the death of British lawmakers. The Paris suburb of Saint-Cloud approved a €40,000 subsidy this year for the Rock En Seine festival that last year attracted 180,000 people over four days. The town council said the money had been agreed before the lineup was announced. Kneecap are to appear at the event on August 24th. Saint-Cloud said its council had now voted to withdraw the subsidy. A statement said the town, 'finances, within its means, a cultural and artistic project. On the other hand it does not finance political action, nor demands, and even less calls to violence, such as calls to kill lawmakers, whatever their nationality.' The town said it respects the festival's 'freedom' to decide its lineup and had not sought 'any kind of negotiation with the aim of influencing the programme'. Advertisement Kneecap have been taken off the bill for festivals in Scotland and Germany this year because of the controversy. The group have said they are committed to the Palestinian cause but have denied any terrorism connection. Singer Liam O'Hanna, who appears under the name Mo Chara, has condemned the charges against him as political. O'Hanna is to appear in court again four days before the Rock En Seine show.
Bangkok Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Bangkok Post
French town withdraws pop festival funding over Kneecap appearance
NANTERRE - A town that hosts one of France's biggest pop festivals announced on Wednesday that it was withdrawing its subsidy to the event because controversial Irish rappers Kneecap had been booked to play. British police are investigating Kneecap's lead singer under a terror offence after he was accused of displaying a Hezbollah flag at a concert last year. The Lebanese militant group is banned in Britain. Police said they are also investigating videos allegedly showing calls for the death of British lawmakers. The Paris suburb of Saint Cloud approved a 40,000 euro ($46,500) subsidy this year for the Rock En Seine festival that last year attracted 180,000 people over four days. The town council said the money had been agreed before the lineup was announced. Kneecap are to appear at the event on August 24. Saint Cloud said its council had now voted to withdraw the subsidy. A statement said the town "finances, within its means, a cultural and artistic project. On the other hand it does not finance political action, nor demands, and even less calls to violence, such as calls to kill lawmakers, whatever their nationality." The town said it respects the festival's "freedom" to decide its lineup and had not sought "any kind of negotiation with the aim of influencing the programme". Kneecap have been taken off the bill for festivals in Scotland and Germany this year because of the controversy. The group have said they are commited to the Palestinian cause but have denied any terrorism connection. Singer Liam O'Hanna, who appears under the name Mo Chara, has condemned the charges against him as political. O'Hanna is to appear in court again four days before the Rock En Seine show.
