Rap trio Kneecap held a surprise performance in London the day after one of their members was charged with a terror offence.
The Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday that Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, had been charged over the alleged display of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November 2024.
The group from Belfast, who rap in the Irish language, announced they would perform at the 100 Club on Oxford Street on Thursday evening, ahead of their headline slot at Wide Awake Festival in Brockwell Park, south London, on Friday night.
Mr Óg Ó hAnnaidh arrived at the central London venue on Thursday in a silver Mercedes and happily posed for a photographer.
The Metropolitan Police 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.”
At least three officers were seen entering the venue while others were outside.
The band said on X that the event sold out in 90 seconds, with 2,000 people on the waiting list.
In a post on social media earlier announcing the gig, Kneecap said: “London. We’re back. See you at The 100 Club tonight – tickets on sale in one hour at 4pm.”
The post contained a quote from former Sex Pistols singer John Lydon who told ITV’s Good Morning Britain “maybe they need a bloody good kneecapping” in response to footage that appeared to show a member of the band saying: “Kill your local MP.”
The venue confirmed the gig in a social media post and said doors to the event will open at 7.30pm.
Mr Ó hAnnaidh, 27, was charged by postal requisition and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 18 June , the Metropolitan Police said.
In response to the charge, the group said in a social media statement: “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.”
Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command were made aware on 22 April 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 Hezbollah”.
The rap trio have had gigs cancelled after the footage emerged but are still listed to headline Wide Awake.
They apologised in April 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 Hezbollah, 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.
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.
Formed in 2017, the group – made up of Mr Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh – are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language.
Their best-known tracks include “Get Your Brits Out”, “Better Way To Live” featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and “3Cag”.
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