Kneecap rapper tells Glastonbury he's a 'free man' after terror charge court appearance

Kneecap rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh told Glastonbury helium is simply a "free man" arsenic the Irish rap set played to a immense crowd.

O hAnnaidh, besides known arsenic Liam O'Hanna - oregon by his signifier sanction Mo Chara - was charged with a panic offence successful May and appeared astatine Westminster Magistrates' Court earlier this month.

The 27-year-old is accused of displaying a emblem successful enactment of the proscribed radical Hezbollah astatine a gig successful London past November, aft video footage circulated online. He was released connected unconditional bail up of a 2nd tribunal quality successful August.

Before their show astatine Glastonbury determination had been calls from immoderate politicians for them to beryllium chopped from the line-up.

But they were greeted by cheers of support, and dozens of Palestinian flags waving successful the audience, arsenic good arsenic Irish flags and a fewer "Free Mo Chara" T-shirts. On stage, they said it was the biggest assemblage they had ever played to.

Kneecap played the West Holts stage, which has a capableness of astir 30,000, and the country was closed by information astir 45 minutes earlier their set.

They started with a montage of quality readers covering O hAnnaidh's charge. "Has anybody been watching the news?" bandmate Naoise O Caireallain joked.

They besides thanked Glastonbury organisers Michael Eavis and girl Emily for not bowing to unit to region them from the bill.

In notation to his bandmate's upcoming tribunal date, O Caireallain, who performs nether the sanction Moglai Bap, said they would "start a riot extracurricular the courts", earlier clarifying: "No riots, conscionable emotion and support, and enactment for Palestine."

Earlier connected Saturday, the BBC confirmed they would not beryllium live-streaming the acceptable but said the show could beryllium made disposable on-demand later.

Before their set, rap-punk duo Bob Vylan besides caused controversy, starring the assemblage successful chants of: "Free, escaped Palestine" and: "Death, decease to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)."

Police said afterwards that they were assessing footage of some performances to determine whether immoderate offences whitethorn person been committed.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC Director General astir Bob Vylan's performance, a authorities spokesperson said.

Kneecap were removed from different festivals earlier this year, and earlier Glastonbury determination were calls from immoderate for them to beryllium taken disconnected the measure - including from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The rappers have had the enactment of dozens of musicians including Massive Attack, Pulp, Primal Scream and Paul Weller, who signed an unfastened missive successful May saying determination had been a "concerted effort to censor and yet de-platform" the group.

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Kneecap released their archetypal azygous successful 2017 and built a loyal fanbase successful the pursuing years.

They roseate to wider prominence successful 2024 pursuing the merchandise of their debut medium and eponymous movie - a fictionalised retelling of however the set came unneurotic and their combat to prevention the Irish language.