CONTROVERSIAL hip hop group Kneecap will not be prosecuted by terror cops over their “kill your MP” remarks.
The Irish band – who the BBC refused to broadcast live at Glastonbury yesterday – were subject of a terror probe by the Met Police unrelated to their appearance at the festival.
AlamyKneecap members Liam Og O hAnnaidh and Naoise O Caireallain performing at Glastonbury on Saturday[/caption]
GettyO Caireallain and Og O hAnnaidh with fellow member JJ O Dochartaigh (centre)[/caption]
InstagramO Dochartaigh in a ‘We Are All Palestine Action’ t-shirt ahead of the band’s Glastonbury performance[/caption]
It concerned a video from a November 2023 gig which emerged last month and saw one band member calling for the death of British politicians.
He could be heard in the footage saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”
The trio – which includes Liam Og O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh – responded with a grovelling statement, including to the families of murdered MPs Sir David Amess and Jo Cox, insisting they would not incite violence against any individual.
The Met Police has now said is will not proceed with the case for a number of reasons, including the “time elapsed between the events in the video and the video being brought to police attention”.
The statement said: “A thorough investigation has now been completed by detectives from the Counter Terrorism Command, which included interviewing an individual under caution and seeking early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.
“A range of offences were considered as part of the investigation.
“However, given the time elapsed between the events in the video and the video being brought to police attention, any potential summary only offences were beyond the statutory time limit for prosecution.
“Relevant indictable offences were considered by the investigation team and, based on all of the current evidence available, a decision has been made that no further action will be taken at this time.”
However, Avon & Somerset Police is carrying out its own investigation into comments made by Kneecap and rap duo Bob Vylan on Glastonbury’s West Holts Stage on Saturday.
Ó Caireallain called on the crowd to “riot” outside Westminster magistrates in August when bandmate O hAnnaidh returns to court in August on another terror charge.
Kneecap started their performance yesterday afternoon by chanting “f*** Keir Starmer”.
They also spoke out in support of Palestine Action and prior to appearing on stage, the band put a post onto their social media accounts showing a photo of O Dochartaigh in a ‘We Are All Palestine Action’ t-shirt.
The anti-Israel activist group could soon be banned in the UK.
Meanwhile, a statement said Glastonbury chiefs are “appalled” after music double act Bob Vylan led the crowd in “death to the IDF” chants during their performance.
IDF stands for Israel Defence Forces, the national military of the State of Israel, which is currently involved with the war in Gaza, one of two remaining Palestinian territories.
It comes after Israeli politicians blasted the BBC and Glastonbury for failing to cut off the performance during the live broadcast of the festival.
The singer from the pro-Palestine punk act, who keeps his identity secret, also shouted “from the river to the sea Palestine… will be free” – regarded by Jews as a call for Israel‘s elimination.
Bob Vylan – which consists of singer Bobby Vylan and guitarist Bobbie Vylan – then shared a post on X of the former eating an ice-cream with the caption: “While Zionists are crying on socials, I’ve just had a late night (vegan) ice cream.”
The BBC later took down the broadcast on the iPlayer but has been criticised for not cutting it off immediately after the anti-Semitic chanting, with the live feed continuing for another 40 minutes.
‘Up Hamas, up Hezbollah’
O hAnnaidh was charged under the Terrorism Act last month after allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist group Hezbollah while saying “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” during a gig in Kentish Town, north London, in November.
In response to the charge, Kneecap said in a previous social media post: “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…
“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.”
Hezbollah – founded in 1982 – is an Iran-backed Shiite militia.
The Lebanese terrorist organisation voiced support for the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 2023 before launching guided rockets and artillery shells at Israeli-occupied positions the following day.
Israel has retaliated with strikes on Gaza – and the conflict remains ongoing, with thousands of people, including civilian children, killed.
Despite the alleged comments, Kneecap has said they “do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah”, condemned all attacks on civilians, and alleged footage at the November gig was “deliberately taken out of all context” as part of a “coordinated smear campaign” over their criticism of “the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people”.
GettyDJ Provaí during the Glastonbury performance[/caption]
EPAOg O hAnnaidh sits in a taxi after he left Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 18[/caption]
Shutterstock EditorialBob Vylan’s performance at Glastonbury has been slammed for alleged Antisemitism[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
