Kneecap Frontman on Trial for Terrorism: Live Updates

A member ofBelfastrap group Kneecap is due to appear in court this morning accused of a terrorism offence. Accusations and Allegations Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in November last year. The 27-year-old is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning following the alleged incident during a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London. The charge Og O hAnnaidh faces alleges he displayed a flag in a public place, “in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation” – namely Hezbollah. Response from Kneecap Kneecap described the prosecution as a “witch hunt” in a post on X on Tuesday evening. The post including a short video which appeared to show a billboard that had been displayed in London with the words “more blacks, more dogs, more Irish, Mo Chara”. The Metropolitan Police said the force had charged O hAnnaidh, who appears on the court list as Liam O’Hanna, after initially being made aware of a video from the gig at the O2 Forum which had been posted online. In a separate event shortly after the terrorism charge, O hAnnaidh could be seen in social media videos entering the stage with tape covering his mouth.