A “policing plan” is in place for a surprise gig by Irish rap trio Kneecap in central London, the city’s Metropolitan Police have said.
The event at the 100 Club on Oxford Street comes after the band said the charging of one of its members with a terror offence in the UK is “political policing” and a “carnival of distraction”.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was charged under the name Liam O’Hanna over the alleged displaying of a flag in support of Hizbullah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, on November 21st last year.
He posed for a photograph at the rear entrance of the 100 Club on Thursday evening.
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A Met police spokesman said a policing plan is in place around tonight’s event “to ensure it passes off safely”.
“This is primarily in terms of managing visitors to the venue for what we understand is a spontaneous and sold-out event. There have been no issues or arrests,” he said
At least three officers were seen walking into the venue at about 7.35pm.
A short queue formed outside the venue before the doors opened, including one man in a band T-shirt. The band said on X that the event sold out in 90 seconds, with 2,000 people on the waiting list.
A rap band from west Belfast who perform mostly in Irish, Kneecap are Mo Chara, DJ Próvai and Móglaí Bap – real names Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, JJ Ó Dochartaigh and Naoise Ó Cairealláin, respectively.
In a statement earlier on Thursday, the group 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 ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare 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 YOUR COURT. WE WILL WIN. FREE PALESTINE.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said members of Kneecap have been “very clear” that they do not support Hizbullah or Hamas.
Mr Martin was asked by reporters if Mr Ó hAnnaidh would receive diplomatic assistance arising out of the incident. He said consular assistance would be given to Mr Ó hAnnaidh if he requires it.
“I would note that members of the band have been very clear in recent statements that they do not in any shape or form support Hizbullah or Hamas and they have issued statements to that effect.
“But I am not going to interfere in the court process. I think this matter will take its course. I am not going to comment on something that has happened in the UK through its legal processes,” Mr Martin said.
In the Dáil on Thursday, Labour TD Conor Sheehan said the charge comes “under legislation that the British Government has been rather selective in its application of”.
He said the charge is “political” and “designed to censor and silence those who are calling out this genocide”.
Responding, Tánaiste Simon Harris said he is conscious of recognising “the separation that exists between governments and criminal justice systems, without wanting to say anything that cuts across a criminal justice system in another country”.
“But I am very clear that the absolute focus of the entire world needs right in the here and now to be on the deprivation and starvation and war crimes being committed in Gaza.”
Mr Óg hAnnaidh (27) from Belfast, was charged by postal requisition and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 18th, the Metropolitan Police said.
Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command were made aware on April 22nd of an online video from the event, police 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 Hizbullah”.
The rap trio have had gigs cancelled after the footage emerged, but are still listed to headline Friday’s Wide Awake day festival in Brixton’s Brockwell Park.
The group apologised last month to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been “exploited and weaponised”.
They also said they have “never supported” Hamas or Hizbullah, which are banned in the UK.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned while other politicians pushed for the group to be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up.
Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, which reported Kneecap to counter-terrorism police, posted on X: “We are pleased to see the police have acted swiftly. Hamas and Hezbollah are both proscribed terrorist organisations in the UK. The law must be enforced.”
In 2024, the band released an eponymous film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender which is a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and follows the Belfast group on their mission to save their mother tongue through music. -Additional reporting PA
