UK police to take no action against Kneecap after ‘terrorism’ investigation

UK police to take no action against Kneecap after ‘terrorism’ investigation

In a case involving the Irish hip-hop trio’s opposition to Israel, police in the United Kingdom have decided not to pursue any further action against Kneecap.

The Crown Prosecution Service contacted Avon and Somerset police on Friday to request their assistance with an investigation into the music group’s June 28 performance at the Glastonbury Festival.

The band has been informed about the decision, and it has made the decision to stop right away because there isn’t enough evidence to support a realistic chance of conviction for any offence.

Kneecap, which has consistently endorsed Palestine on numerous occasions in their shows and online, confirmed that a representative had given them the details.

They wrote in a post online that the investigation amounted to “state intimidation,” saying “everyone who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close.

A member of the band was accused of “terrorism” offence after playing a Hezbollah concert in London in November 2024.

The Belfast-based trio, known for its political and satirical lyrics, has been working on the themes of the struggles of the Irish and Palestinians living under Israeli occupation and siege for decades.

In a statement from Avon and Somerset police, the pair’s separate comments on stage by rap-punk duo Bob Vylan were being investigated.

In support of Palestinians, Bob Vylan has also used the UK’s largest summer music festival to chant anti-Israeli soldiers.

The duo chanted “death” to the Israeli army and “free Palestine,” which led to a British police-related criminal investigation.

Following the performance, which pro-Israel voices criticized as “anti-Semitic,” BBC UK announced that it would no longer be available for live-broadcast musical performances with “high risk.”

The British government, a major supplier of weapons to Israel’s military and a steadfast supporter of Israel, also referred to the chants as “appalling hate speech.”

The musicians’ visas were suspended by American authorities because they opposed any religious organizations and said they were opposed to “dismantling a violent military machine” that had nearly destroyed the Gaza Strip.

Source: Aljazeera

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