Cliff Notes
- Counter-terror police are assessing two videos of Kneecap performances featuring calls for violence against Conservative MPs and support for Hamas and Hezbollah, both designated terrorist organisations in the UK.
- The performances in question were from concerts in November 2023 and 2024, prompting a police investigation under the Terrorism Act 2000 regarding supportive expressions towards proscribed organisations.
- Kneecap has described the investigations as a “coordinated smear campaign,” asserting that their music critiques government complicity in war crimes and maintains that their fans see through the allegations.
Counter-terror police investigating second Kneecap video
Counter-terror police are “assessing” a second video of a Kneecap performance – after it allegedly saw the rap trio calling for the death of Conservative MPs.
The footage is believed to have been taken during one of the Northern Irish band’s concerts in November 2023.
One member of the group is alleged to have said: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”
On Wednesday the Metropolitan Police revealed its counter-terror unit was investigating another clip of a Kneecap performance over claims it showed one member shouting: “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah”.
That video was from a Kneecap gig at London‘s Kentish Town Forum last November.
Hamas and Hezbollah are both proscribed as terrorist groups in the UK. Under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000, it is an offence to express “an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation”.
Commenting on the second clip, a Met Police spokesman said on Sunday: “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 added that the internet referral unit is “assessing” both clips to “determine whether further police investigation is required”.
In their statement in response to the previous Met investigation, Kneecap described it as a “coordinated smear campaign”.
They said they “use their shows to call out the British and Irish governments’ complicity in war crimes” and that their fans “see through the lies”.
Two British MPs have been murdered in the past 10 years – Labour’s Jo Cox in 2016 and Conservative Sir David Amess in 2021.
A UK government spokesman commented: “We unequivocally condemn threatening remarks made towards any individual.
“Political intimidation and abuse must have no place in our society. We recognise the chilling effect that harassment and intimidation of elected representatives can have on our democracy.
“All reports of intimidation, harassment and threats are taken extremely seriously. We work with the police and Parliament to do everything in our power to crack down on threats to elected officials.”