A member of Irish hip hop group Kneecap has been charged with a terrorism offense by London’s Metropolitan Police. Liam O’Hanna, 27, from Belfast, was charged with displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organization. The charge relates to an incident at the O2 Forum Kentish Town on November 21, 2024.
O’Hanna, also known as Mo Chara, allegedly displayed the flag in a way that aroused reasonable suspicion about his support for Hezbollah. The police investigation began after an online video from the event was shared and led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorizing the charge.
Kneecap has been vocal critics of Israel’s war in Gaza and has apologized to the families of two British MPs who were murdered after making comments against them. The group’s manager, Daniel Lambert, claimed that the controversy surrounding Kneecap is not about the band but rather about artists being silenced over discussing Palestine.
O’Hanna is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 18.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/21/europe/kneecap-liam-ohanna-charged-latam-intl