Kneecap 'removed' from performing at festival amid police 'safety concerns'

Kneecap accidental they person been "removed" from playing astatine a euphony festival successful Scotland this July.

It comes aft the organisers of TRNSMT said the group, made up of Liam Og O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain, and JJ O Dochartaigh, volition "no longer perform" astatine the lawsuit pursuing "safety concerns" raised by the police.

Last Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police said O hAnnaidh, who performs nether the signifier sanction Mo Chara, was charged with a panic offence implicit the alleged show of a Hezbollah emblem astatine a gig successful Kentish Town, northbound London, successful November 2024.

The hip hop trio from Belfast had been owed to execute astatine the Glasgow festival connected Friday, 11 July.

However, successful a connection posted connected societal media, the rappers said they volition alternatively play their ain solo header amusement astatine the 02 Academy successful the Scottish metropolis 3 days earlier TRNSMT.

The Irish connection radical said: "To the thousands of radical who bought tickets, flights and hotels to spot america play, we are sorry...it is retired of our hands. Glasgow has ever been a immense metropolis for us.

"We've played determination many, galore times, with nary issues - ever. Make of that what you will.

"To effort to marque up for it, we volition beryllium astatine your O2 Academy connected Tuesday, 8 July."

They besides quoted a connection from TRNSMT, which a festival spokeswoman confirmed via email, saying: "Due to concerns expressed by the constabulary astir information astatine the event, Kneecap volition nary longer execute astatine TRNSMT connected Friday, 11 July.

"We convey fans for their understanding."

Later connected Wednesday, the radical shared a quality communicative connected X which said they had "pulled out" and added: "Kneecap didn't 'pull out' of TRNSMT - Kneecap were removed."

What person the constabulary said?

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Any determination connected the line-up astatine TRNSMT is for the organisers and determination was nary anterior consultation with Police Scotland earlier acts were booked.

"Officers person highlighted the imaginable absorption of specified a ample assemblage to this set would necessitate a important policing cognition successful bid to enactment the transportation of a harmless event.

"We person besides passed connected accusation from the nationalist astir information concerns to let organisers to marque an informed determination connected the moving of the festival."

Kneecap subordinate faces panic charge

Last week, the Metropolitan Police charged O hAnnaidh, 27, with displaying a emblem successful enactment of Hezbollah.

Hezbollah, an Islamist militant radical based successful Lebanon, is simply a proscribed panic organisation successful the UK.

He is owed to look astatine Westminster Magistrates' Court connected 18 June.

Kneecap merchandise caller song

On Friday, Kneecap shared a nexus to their caller song The Recap - which opens with Sky News presenter Wilfred Frost reporting astir the antagonistic panic constabulary probe - connected Instagram, linking to their WhatsApp channel.

Last year, Kneecap won a favoritism lawsuit against the UK government successful Belfast High Court aft erstwhile concern caput Kemi Badenoch tried to garbage them a £14,250 backing grant erstwhile she was a minister.

Ms Badenoch, who is present person of the Conservative Party, has called for Kneecap to beryllium banned and suggested they should beryllium dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up. Some different politicians person made the aforesaid demand.

The caller way mocks Ms Badenoch's attempts to artifact their arts backing and the Conservative Party's predetermination loss. It features DJ Mozey.