Kneecap insist 'we will fight' as member is charged with terrorism

Kneecap have hit out and fumed "we will fight" after Liam O'Hanna was charged with terrorism. O'Hanna, who performs under the pseudonym Mo Chara, was charged after waving

a Hezbollah flag on stage. The incident was investigated by the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism unit following the concert held at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London,

on November 21. The band strongly deny the allegations. Taking to Instagram to issue a lengthy statement, the band 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 travel ability. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare to 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 court. We will win. Free Palestine." O'Hanna, 27, of

Belfast, was charged by postal requisition and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18, the Met said. Officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command were

made aware on April 22 of an online video from the event, the force 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". In a statement, the Met said: "Liam O'Hanna, 27, (16.10.97) of Belfast has been charged, via postal requisition, with displaying a flag in support of Hizballah, a

proscribed organisation, namely: On 21 November 2024, in a public place, namely the O2 Forum, Kentish Town, London, displayed an article, namely a flag, in such a way or in such

circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation, namely Hizballah, contrary to section 13(1)(b) and (3) of the Terrorism Act 2000."

They added that the Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charges after being made aware of the flag incident and following an investigation. Shortly after the charge was announced, the

band, consisting of co-members Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaig, took to X to share a clip of Liam speaking during an RTE interview. They said, "Recorded in January and just

aired on RTE TV now." They then quoted what Liam said in the video: "I don't want to be 80, 90 years of age and my grandkids asking me about the Palestinian genocide? Me

sitting there being like f**k, I didn't do enough. I don't wanna be on that side of history. If it comes down to awards or breaking America by sacrifice what you believe in, then

America can go f**k itself." The band added: "We are clearer than ever on who we are and what we stand for. We will have a short statement soon. FREE PALESTINE." Kneecap have

also apologised to the families of murdered MPs, but claimed footage of the incident had been "exploited and weaponised", while they also said they have "never supported"

Hamas or Hezbollah, which are both banned organisations in the UK. The trio added: "To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you

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