Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh performs with the controversial Irish language group under the stage name Mo Chara.
In a statement, the Met said: “A man has been charged with a terrorism offence following an investigation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.
“Liam O’Hanna, 27, (16.10.97) of Belfast has been charged, via postal requisition, with displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, 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 Hezbollah, contrary to section 13(1)(b) and (3) of the Terrorism Act 2000.
“Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command were made aware on Tuesday, 22 April of an online video from the event. An investigation was carried out, which led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the above charge.
“O’Hanna is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 18 June.”
Kneecap, with Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh/Liam O’Hannah, left
Kneecap investigated by counter-terrorism officers over ‘kill your MP’ video
Last month, the Metropolitan Police’s anti-terror unit in London confirmed that there are “grounds for further investigation” over videos in which a band member from the group appeared to shout, “Kill your MP” from the stage and, in a separate incident, “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah”.
Both groups have been declared terrorist organisations in the UK, meaning it is illegal to voice support for them.
The band released a statement, in which they denied support for the groups, writing on social media: “They want you to believe words are more harmful than genocide.
“Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation’s history.”
The group also said that the footage of them was “deliberately taken out of context” with the express purpose of silencing them.
In their statement, they added that unnamed “establishment figures” had “combed through hundreds of hours of footage and interviews” with the goal of “manufactur[ing] moral hysteria”.
They also apologised to the families of Jo Cox and David Amess, two MPs who were killed.
In their statement, Kneecap said: “To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies. We never intended to cause you hurt.
“Kneecap’s message has always been — and remains — one of love, inclusion, and hope. This is why our music resonates across generations, countries, classes and cultures and has brought hundreds of thousands of people to our gigs. No smear campaign will change that.”
On Monday, the group teased a new song, titled ‘The Recap’, set to be released later this week.
They also appeared on RTÉ’s Uncharted with Ray Goggins this evening. Shortly after the programme aired, the group released a small statement on social media following the charges, in which they quoted Ó hAnnaidh’s comments on the broadcast.
“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,” the group wrote on their social media accounts.
“If it comes down to awards or breaking America by sacrifice what you believe in, then America can go f**k itself.
“We are clearer than ever on who we are and what we stand for.
“We will have a short statement soon. Free Palestine.”
Reacting to the Met Police’s statement, People Before Profit MP Gerry Carroll called for the charges against Ó hAnnaidh to be dropped.
“The charges on Kneecap’s Mo Chara should be dropped immediately,” he said.
“This is the British Government deliberately + unashamedly trying to make an example of Kneecap for shining a light on the West’s complicity in genocide.
“Lock up Keir Starmer for arming genocide, not Liam Óg.”
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said the Labour Party owed the “public an apology” following the charge against one of the group’s members.
“When I blocked Kneecap from getting taxpayer cash, they sued. Labour refused to fight the case—and handed them £14,250 of your money,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“Now one of them’s been charged with terrorism offences. Labour owes the public an apology.”
While TUV deputy leader Court Councillor Ron McDowell said he welcomed the charges against Ó hAnnaidh and they were “overdue”.
“I welcome the decision by the Metropolitan Police to charge a member of the rap group Kneecap with displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organisation,” he said in a statement.
“For too long, the powers that be have turned a blind eye to this group’s open glorification of terrorism. This charge is long overdue.”
The SDLP’s Matthew O’Toole said the charges against the Kneecap member were “tone deaf.”
“Some of the people cheering this decision in NI are the same people who tell my constituents they have to accept UDA and UVF flags in their street.
“You don’t need to condone every antic by Kneecap to see this as a deeply tone deaf thing to do while a genocide unfolds.”
Kneecap’s management has been contacted for comment.
More to follow.