Kneecap accuse authorities of trying to 'silence' them as member of Irish rap trio is charged with terrorism offences after 'displaying a flag in support for Hezbollah'

We invite the members of Kneecap to visit the Nova Exhibition in Toronto and experience firsthand the stories of those who were murdered, those who survived, and those are still being held hostage,

the organizers said

We are clearer than ever on who we are and what we stand for,

the post added

I don’t want to be 80, 90 years of age and my grandkids asking me, 'Why did nobody do anything about the Palestinian genocide?' And me sitting there being like, 'F---, I didn’t do enough.' I don’t want to be on that side of history.”

After Wednesday’s announcement, Kneecap’s account on the social media platform X posted a previous interview with O’Hanna that showed him saying

Up Hamas, up Hezbollah."

One video appeared to show a band member shouting

We do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah,

the group said

The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”

Separately, video from November 2023 appeared to show one member of the group, who are from Northern Ireland, saying

The Irish not so long ago were persecuted by the Brits, but we were never bombed from the f****** skies with nowhere to go! The Palestinians have nowhere to go – it’s their f****** home and they’re bombing them from the sky. If you’re not calling it a genocide what the f*** are you calling it

read the words projected by Mo Chara

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.”

The force added

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.”

The group added