Kneecap breaks silence on counter terrorism investigation as they blast 'smear campaign'
Kneecap have broken their silence
after a clip from a concert was
referred to counter-terrorism police
in the U.K.
The
Northern Irish rap group
have been in the headlines in recent weeks following their performance at Coachella during which they expressed their support for
Palestine
and called out Israel. The band displayed messages which read, "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. F--- Israel. Free Palestine."
After their gig, Kneecap received the support of fans but they were also criticized by figures including Sharon Osbourne, who called for their U.S. work visas to be revoked. The group also faced condemnation by the British government and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch when footage emerged from a gig appearing to show one member of Kneecap urging support for the killing of Members of Parliament.
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In the video from the November 2023 concert, the band member appeared to say, "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP." Counter-terrorism police in London are examining the footage, along with a video clip from another concert in November 2024 in which a member of the band appeared to shout "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" - groups which are banned as terrorist organisations in the U.K.
The band performing at Coachella
(Image: Getty Images for Coachella)
Late last night, Kneecap issued a statement on social media in which they rejected "any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual." They said the footage was "deliberately taken out of context" and said it is now being weaponized as "a transparent effort to derail the real conversation" - the fact that two million Palestinians are enduring tremendous suffering at the hands of Israel.
The group said the British government is continuing to supply arms to Israel despite the deaths of at least 20,000 children in Gaza. Kneecap said "real anger and outrage" should be directed towards those who "have abetted slaughter and famine."
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Kneecap apologized to the families of Sir David Amess and Jo Cox, two British MPs who were killed, saying they didn't intend to cause any harm. Labour MP Ms Cox was stabbed and shot in 2016, while Conservative Sir David was stabbed to death in 2021. Sir David's daughter Katie criticized the band after the footage from the concert emerged.
On Monday, Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesman said the Prime Minister believed the recent comments attributed to the band in the footage were "completely unacceptable" and "condemns them in the strongest possible terms." Mrs Badenoch said Kneecap's "anti-British hatred has no place in our society" and that it is "good" the police are looking into the allegations, adding, "Kneecap's glorification of terrorism and anti-British hatred has no place in our society. After the murder of Sir David Amess, this demands prosecution."
The group faced criticism after expressing support for Palestine
(Image: Getty Images for Coachella)
Kneecap insisted it has never supported Hamas or Hezbollah and it condemned all attacks on civilians. In their statement, the band - which is composed of Mo Chara (Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh), Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin), and DJ Próvaí (J.J. Ó Dochartaigh) - said they promote a message "of love, inclusion, and hope" and vowed that "no smear campaign will change that."
Kneecap wrote, "They want you to believe words are more harmful than genocide. Establishment figures, desperate to silence us, have combed through hundreds of hours of footage and interviews, extracting a handful of words from months or years ago to manufacture moral hysteria.
"Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation's history. We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever."
The band apologized to the Cox and Amess families
(Image: Getty Images for BFI)
They added, "An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action. This distortion is not only absurd - it is a transparent effort to derail the real conversation. All two million Palestinian people in Gaza are currently being starved to death by Israel. At least 20,000 children in Gaza have been killed.
"The British government continues to supply arms to Israel, even after scores of NHS doctors warned Keir Starmer in August that children were being systematically executed with sniper shots to the head. Instead of defending innocent people or the principles of international law, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine. This is where real anger and outrage should be directed towards."
The group continued, "To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt. Kneecap's message has always been - and remains - one of love, inclusion, and hope. This is why our music resonates across generations, countries, classes and cultures and has brought hundreds of thousands of people to our gigs. No smear campaign will change that.
The group said they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah
(Image: PA)
"Suddenly, days after calling out the US administration at Coachella to applause and solidarity, there is an avalanche of outrage and condemnation by the political classes of Britain. The real crimes are not in our performances; the real crimes are the silence and complicity of those in power. Shame on them."
Counter-terrorism police are assessing footage reportedly from the November 2024 gig in London's Kentish Town Forum and the November 2023 concert. On Sunday, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said, "We were made aware of a video on April 22, believed to be from an event in November 2024, 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. We have also been made aware of another video believed to be from an event in November 2023."
He also said the force "are assessing both to determine whether further police investigation is required." The counter-terrorism internet referral unit (CTIRU) is based within the Met's Counter Terrorism Command which is dedicated to identifying terrorist and extremist material online. Police will carry out an investigation if the material breaches the law.
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