Knee-jerk reaction for Kneecap

Artists back Irish trio for supporting Gaza amid calls for ban

British counter terrorism police launched an investigation into online videos of Irish rap group Kneecap on Thursday after the band denied supporting Hamas and Hezbollah or inciting violence against UK politicians, reported AFP.

The announcement came as nearly 40 other groups and artists, among them Pulp, Paul Weller and Primal Scream, rallied around the band in an escalating row about political messaging at its concerts. Other artists who have offered their support include The Pogues, Massive Attack, Dexys and Thin Lizzy.

“As artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom,” the group said in a joint statement.

They added there had been a “clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform” the trio for their criticism of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, as well as of British colonialism in Ireland and beyond.

Since the row erupted, Kneecap has had several concerts cancelled, including one in southwest England and three in Germany.

Festivals in the Czech Republic and The Netherlands were also monitoring the situation, according to the PA news agency.

London’s Metropolitan Police said two videos had been “referred to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit for assessment by specialist officers, who have determined there are grounds for further investigation into potential offences linked to both videos”.

The investigation was “now being carried out by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command and inquiries remain ongoing at this time”, it added.

Kneecap on Monday apologised to the families of murdered British politicians and denied supporting Hamas and Hezbollah.

Call for ban

The row began after police on Sunday said they were examining video footage. One video appeared to show a band member shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”.

Those groups, in Gaza and in Lebanon, are banned as terror organisations in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them.

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin had urged the band to clarify whether they supported the groups or not.

Video also emerged of the Belfast rap trio at a 2023 gig appearing to show one member saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”

The family of Conservative MP David Amess, who was fatally stabbed by an Islamic State group follower in 2021, called for an apology from Kneecap while the party leader Kemi Badenoch called for the band to be banned.