Hundreds support Irish group Kneecap at UK court terrorism hearing

Hundreds of people gathered outside a London court on Wednesday to support a member of the Irish rap group Kneecap who was due to appear over a terrorism charge for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed group Hezbollah.

Liam O’Hanna, whose stage name is Mo Chara, is alleged to have waved the flag of banned terrorist group Hezbollah during a Kneecap gig in London in November 2024.

The 27-year-old was charged last month under the Terrorism Act, under which it is a criminal offense to display an article in a way which arouses reasonable suspicion that someone is a supporter of a proscribed organization.

Belfast-based Kneecap, who rap in Irish and English and regularly display pro-Palestine messages during their gigs, previously said the flag had been thrown on stage and described the charge against O’Hanna as an attempt to silence them.

Hundreds of supporters gathered outside Westminster Magistrates Court ahead of the hearing, including some Northern Irish politicians and musicians, singing and waving Irish and Palestinian flags.

O’Hanna had to push past a huge scrum of photographers when he arrived, with some supporters pushing their way into the entrance of the court, chanting Free Palestine and Free Mo Chara Now.