LAST UPDATE | 24 Apr 2025

COUNTERTERRORISM POLICE IN the UK are reviewing footage of Kneecap performing in the UK in November after complaints following the group’s expressions of support for Palestine and condemnation of Israel.

Belfast rap trio Kneecap have made headlines over the last week after their performance at US music festival Coachella on Friday, during which their screen displayed messages that included “F**k Israel. Free Palestine.”

Footage from another one of the group’s performances, this time purportedly from a gig in London last November, is being reviewed by the Metropolitan Police’s counterterrorism unit.

“We were made aware of a video on Tuesday, 22 April and it has been referred to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit for assessment and to determine whether any further police investigation may be required,” a police spokesperson said in a statement received by The Journal.

The Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit is tasked with identifying terrorist and extremist material online.

It works with service providers to seek the removal of such material, and if material breaches UK terrorism law, police carry out an investigation.

The video was posted on social media three days ago and allegedly shows one of the performers shouting “Free Palestine” and “Tiocfaidh ár lá”, followed by “Up Hamas” and “Up Hezbollah”.

It was posted by Daniel Morris of Community Security Trust, a British charity that provides safety services and advice to Jewish people in the UK.

Hamas and Hizballah are terrorist groups which pose a threat to civilians around the world including here in the UK. That is why they are proscribed and it is illegal to support them. It is therefore shocking to see a performer actively show support for these groups on stage at a… https://t.co/ePkalbbuzw

— Jewish Leadership Council (@JLC_uk) April 23, 2025

Hamas and Hezbollah are on the UK’s list of proscribed terrorist organisations.

Hamas is the military and political organisation that has governed Gaza for nearly two decades and which was responsible for the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel, while Hezbollah, which also has military and political wings, is based in Lebanon and holds de facto control over parts of the country.

It is a criminal offence in the UK to “invite support” or “express an opinion or belief that is supportive” for an organisation on the list.

The penalties for proscription offences can include a fine or prison sentence.

Yesterday, Kneecap’s manager said the group’s members have received death threats over their support for Palestine at their Coachella slot last week.

They ended their set with three messages on a screen that accused Israel of genocide and war crimes against Palestinians, which said: “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people”, “It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes” and “F**k Israel. Free Palestine.”

TV personality Sharon Osbourne called for Kneecap’s members to lose their US work visas, accusing them of “incorporating aggressive political statements”.

In a subsequent interview with Rolling Stone, group member Mo Chara responded: “Her rant has so many holes in it that it hardly warrants a reply, but she should listen to ‘War Pigs’ that was written by Black Sabbath [her husband Ozzy Osbourne's band].”

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