Metropolitan Police to not prosecute Kneecap over “kill your local MP” comments
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed they will be taking no action against Kneecap rapper Mo Chara regarding footage of him telling fans to “kill your local MP” in 2023, but he is still facing a terror charge relating to another video and will be back in court in August.
In May, Chara was charged in relation to a video from Kneecap’s November 2024 concert at O2 Kentish Town Forum, London. In the clip, Mo Chara can be heard seemingly shouting, “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah.” Both Hamas and Hezbollah are recognised as terrorist organisations in the UK. He is still facing charges regarding this incident.
As a result of the charge, Chara appeared in court for a hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court on June 18th and is scheduled to return on August 20th. He was released on unconditional bail.
In another clip, which was also investigated by the police, the rapper, whose real name is Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, believed to have taken place in November 2023, he told the audience: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.” However, in a new update, the Metropolitan Police have confirmed they will be taking no further action regarding this video.
The Metropolitan Police have said in a new statement regarding the “Kill your local MP” video to the Spectator: “A thorough investigation has now been completed by detectives from the Counter Terrorism Command, which included interviewing an individual under caution and seeking early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.”
A spokesperson continued, “A range of offences were considered as part of the investigation. However, given the time elapsed between the events in the video and the video being brought to police attention, any potential summary only offences were beyond the statutory time limit for prosecution.”
“We understand the impact this decision may have on MPs and their staff. The safety and security of MPs is something that is taken extremely seriously across the whole of policing. MPs who may be concerned about their safety can contact their dedicated local Operation Bridger officer, who can provide further advice and support.”
It comes after Kneecap performed to a huge crowd at the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival on June 28th, which the BBC chose not to broadcast their performance live amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the band.
During the show, the band addressed the legal situation, telling the audience, “Young Americans agree with us. Young people around the world knows what’s going on,” they said, talking of their Coachella set that began the initial investigations into the band.
In their biggest hit of the set, Kneecap then turned directly to the UK Prime Minister. “Palestinian Action isn’t arming Israel. That’s Keir Starmer”. They also led the crowd through a chant of “fuck Keir Starmer” after the Labour leader said their set at Glastonbury was “not appropriate” and called on the festival to cancel them from the line-up.
They reiterated this message later in the set, when Chara said: “Fucking love the English people. It’s the English government we don’t like. We’re not far away from a Celtic republic. Fuck Keir Starmer.”
Clarification: This article was updated at 16:35pm on June 28th after previously having the headline, “The Metropolitan Police drop terrorism charges against Kneecap”, which is incorrect and has since been clarified in the article.
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