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 at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town in November last year.
The 27-year-old is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today (June 18).
Og O hAnnaidh is charged with displaying 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.
Kneecap described the prosecution as a “witch hunt” in a post on X on Tuesday evening, saying they had “plastered” London with messages.
We’ve plastered London with a few messages ahead of this witch-hunt.
British courts have long charged people from the North of Ireland with “terrorism” for crimes never committed.
We will fight them.
We will win.
GRMA to our pals at @TenthManHello for sorting. pic.twitter.com/DbVQ6fTwda
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) June 17, 2025
The post included a short video that appeared to show a billboard that had been displayed in London with the slogan “more blacks, more dogs, more Irish, Mo Chara”.
The Irish hip-hop trio from Belfast, whose film Kneecap won a BAFTA last year, are scheduled to perform at Finsbury Park on July 5.
Supporters began to gather outside the court building on Wednesday morning holding placards saying “Free Mo Chara” and “Defend Kneecap”.
A mixture of Palestinian and Kneecap flags were held by some of the crowd, and cheers were heard after an advertising van drove past displaying the slogan.
Police officers are seen among supporters of Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court (Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
Austrian Alexandra Kennedy, who had travelled from her home country to show support, said: “I think that Kneecap are important to so many people that if Liam Og O hAnnaidh gets a heavy sentence, then maybe people will lose something, they need the connection to Kneecap.”
Copywriter Victoria Ashworth travelled from her home in Brighton with her daughter Lily to attend the protest.
Ms Ashworth, 53, said: “I just feel like the charges are utterly ridiculous. I believe in freedom of speech.”
Police removed a pro-Israel protester who walked into the crowd wearing an Israeli flag which prompted boos, swearing and shouts of “free Palestine”.
The crowd became animated and shouted “Israel is a terrorist state” and “take him out for his own safety” as he made gestures and argued with protesters.
Police surrounded the man as the crowd moved towards him, with protesters cheering as he was removed.
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 that 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.
The Met previously said the rap trio were under investigation after clips posted online appeared to show the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”.
Kneecap said they have “never supported” Hamas or Hezbollah, both of which are banned in the UK.
