The Belfast-based Irish language rap trio Kneecap has announced plans to release new music, coinciding with an ongoing investigation by UK counter-terrorism officers. The investigation stems from footage that allegedly shows members of the group making provocative statements.
Footage from November 2023 reportedly shows a member of the band shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”. Both Hamas and Hezbollah are proscribed, or banned, organisations in the United Kingdom. Separate footage from the same period in November 2023 also appeared to capture a member saying, “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP”. A second lot of footage from November 2024 has also been referred to the authorities.
The Met Police in the UK stated on Thursday that they became “aware” of two lots of footage from November 2023 and 2024 in April. The force’s Counter Terrorism Command has launched an investigation into the matter. A statement from the police indicated that both videos were referred to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) for assessment by specialist officers. This assessment determined there were “grounds for further investigation into potential offences linked to both videos”.
Amidst this police scrutiny, Kneecap teased the release of new music on Friday. The band posted an image on social media platform X featuring one of their members wearing a keffiyeh-patterned scarf, a symbol often associated with Palestinian solidarity. The post included the caption: “New track coming soon….stay tuned…lock down your aerial”.
Earlier in the week, on Monday, the Irish band issued a statement addressing the controversial footage. They asserted that they have “never supported” Hamas or Hezbollah. In this statement, Kneecap also offered an apology to the families of murdered MPs. The band has also claimed that the footage of the incident has been “exploited and weaponised”.
However, this apology has been met with criticism from some quarters. Katie Amess, the daughter of murdered MP David Amess, who was tragically stabbed to death in 2021, suggested the trio had been “badly advised”. She described their Monday statement as “deflection and excuses and gaslighting”. Ms Amess also expressed concern that it would be “very dangerous” for the group to perform at the upcoming Glastonbury festival. She has called for a “thorough investigation to determine the full extent of any criminal activity” and stressed that “it is imperative that individuals and groups are held accountable for their words and actions that incite violence and hatred”. Similarly, Brendan Cox, whose wife, Labour MP Jo Cox, was murdered in 2016, described Kneecap’s statement as “only half an apology” earlier this week.
The controversy has led to calls for the band to be removed from festival line-ups. Jewish groups and MPs, as well as former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne, have urged for Kneecap to be dropped from the Glastonbury line-up. Ms Osbourne had previously advocated for the band to have their US visas revoked after they criticised Israel while performing at the Coachella festival. Following this criticism, Kneecap’s manager, Daniel Lambert, stated that the band had received “severe” death threats.
The emergence of the footage has already resulted in the cancellation of several performances. Kneecap saw their planned gig at the Eden Project in Cornwall cancelled. That performance was subsequently moved to Plymouth Pavilions, but this concert was also scrapped. Additionally, ticket websites for three scheduled gigs in Germany indicated that the shows in the country had been cancelled. Despite these cancellations, music venue The Depo, also located in Plymouth, announced hours after the Plymouth Pavilions cancellation that it would host three Kneecap gigs at the beginning of July. Festivals in other European countries are currently assessing the situation, with the Paradiso Festival in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Czech Republic’s Rock for People stating they are doing so.
In contrast to the calls for deplatforming, numerous artists have publicly defended the band. Musicians including CMAT, Massive Attack, The Pogues, Brian Eno, Pulp, Paul Weller, former BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac, and Primal Scream have voiced their support. These artists signed a statement asserting that there is a “clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform” Kneecap. The statement claimed that politicians are “strategically concocting moral outrage over the stage utterings of a young punk band” while simultaneously ignoring a “genocide” in Gaza.
Kneecap, known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise, formed in 2017. The trio comprises members who go by the names Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí, identified also as Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Caireallain and J. J. Ó Dochartaigh.