Member of Irish rap trio Kneecap charged with terror offense in U.K.

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LONDON — British police on Wednesday charged a member of Irish hip-hop group Kneecap with a terrorism offense for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a concert.

The Metropolitan Police force said Liam “g ” hAnnaidh, 27, was charged under the Terrorism Act with displaying a flag in support a proscribed organization. The alleged offense happened at the Kentish Town Forum, a London concert venue, on Nov. 21, 2024.

The force said the musician — whose stage name is Mo Chara and whom police referred to by the English spelling of his name, Liam O’Hanna — was charged by postal requisition and is due in court on June 18.

Police are still investigating footage from another Kneecap concert in November 2023.

The Belfast trio has been praised for invigorating the Irish-language cultural scene in Northern Ireland, where the status of the language remains a contested political issue in a society still split between British unionist and Irish nationalist communities. It has also been criticized for lyrics laden with expletives and drug references and for political statements.

Kneecap was not well known outside Northern Ireland before the release of a raucous feature film loosely based on the band’s origins and fueled by a heavy mix of drugs, sex, violence, politics and humor. The group’s members played themselves in “Kneecap,” which won an audience award when it was screened at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. It was shortlisted for best foreign-language picture and best original song at this year’s Academy Awards, though it didn’t make the final cut.

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